Abstract
Background
Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI) is a frequent complication of critical patients and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The glomerular endothelial cell injury is the main characteristics during S-AKI. Ca2+ influx is a key step in the establishment of endothelial injury. Transient receptor vanilloid subtype 4 (TRPV4) ion channels are permeable to Ca2+ and are widely expressed in endothelial cells. However, the role of TRPV4 on glomerular endothelial inflammation in S-AKI has remained elusive.
Methods
Mouse glomerular endothelial cells (MRGEC) were used to test the molecular mechanism of TRPV4 on LPS-induced glomerular endothelial inflammation. The cecal-ligation-and-puncture (CLP) model was established by ligation of cecum with 4-0 suture and punctured with a 21-gauge needle. Then 0.2mL faeces was extruded from the puncture site to trigger peritoneal inflammation.
Results
In the present study, we found that blocking TRPV4 diminishes LPS-induced cytosolic Ca2+-elevations, which are essential for glomerular endothelial inflammation and barrier function. Furthermore, TRPV4 regulated LPS-induced phosphorylation and translocation of NF-κB and IRF-3 in mouse glomerular endothelial cells (MRGEC). Clamping intracellular Ca2+ mimics the LPS-induce response seen in the absence of TRPV4. In vivo, pharmacological blockade or knock down of TRPV4 reduced the inflammatory response of glomerular endothelial cells, inhibited translocation of NF-κB and IRF-3, increased survival rate and improved renal function in CLP-induced sepsis but without altering renal cortical blood perfusion.
Conclusions
Taken together, these results suggested that inhibition of TRPV4 ameliorates glomerular endothelial inflammation, kidney dysfunction, and increased mortality via mediating Ca2+ overload and NF-κB/IRF-3 activation. These discoveries may provide novel pharmacological strategies for the treatment of glomerular endothelial dysfunction and kidney injury during endotoxemia, sepsis, and other inflammatory diseases.
ATP‐mediated intercellular calcium wave in renal (juxta)glomerular endothelial cells (GENC)
