Ca2+ entry via alpha1G and TRPV4 channels differentially regulates surface expression of P-selectin and barrier integrity in pulmonary capillary endothelium

Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2009 Oct;297(4):L650-7. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00015.2009. Epub 2009 Jul 17.

Abstract

Pulmonary vascular endothelial cells express a variety of ion channels that mediate Ca(2+) influx in response to diverse environmental stimuli. However, it is not clear whether Ca(2+) influx from discrete ion channels is functionally coupled to specific outcomes. Thus we conducted a systematic study in mouse lung to address whether the alpha(1G) T-type Ca(2+) channel and the transient receptor potential channel TRPV4 have discrete functional roles in pulmonary capillary endothelium. We used real-time fluorescence imaging for endothelial cytosolic Ca(2+), immunohistochemistry to probe for surface expression of P-selectin, and the filtration coefficient to specifically measure lung endothelial permeability. We demonstrate that membrane depolarization via exposure of pulmonary vascular endothelium to a high-K(+) perfusate induces Ca(2+) entry into alveolar septal endothelial cells and exclusively leads to the surface expression of P-selectin. In contrast, Ca(2+) entry in septal endothelium evoked by the selective TRPV4 activator 4alpha-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (4alpha-PDD) specifically increases lung endothelial permeability without effect on P-selectin expression. Pharmacological blockade or knockout of alpha(1G) abolishes depolarization-induced Ca(2+) entry and surface expression of P-selectin but does not prevent 4alpha-PDD-activated Ca(2+) entry and the resultant increase in permeability. Conversely, blockade or knockout of TRPV4 specifically abolishes 4alpha-PDD-activated Ca(2+) entry and the increase in permeability, while not impacting depolarization-induced Ca(2+) entry and surface expression of P-selectin. We conclude that in alveolar septal capillaries Ca(2+) entry through alpha(1G) and TRPV4 channels differentially and specifically regulates the transition of endothelial procoagulant phenotype and barrier integrity, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium Channels, T-Type / metabolism*
  • Calcium Signaling
  • Carcinogens / pharmacology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • P-Selectin / metabolism*
  • Phorbol Esters / pharmacology
  • Pulmonary Artery / metabolism
  • TRPV Cation Channels / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cacna1g protein, mouse
  • Calcium Channels, T-Type
  • Carcinogens
  • P-Selectin
  • Phorbol Esters
  • TRPV Cation Channels
  • Trpv4 protein, mouse
  • phorbol-12,13-didecanoate
  • Calcium