Abstract
Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by profound vascular remodeling and alterations in Ca 2+ homeostasis in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Multiple transient receptor potential melastatin-related (TRPM) subtypes have been identified in vascular tissue. However, the changes in the expression and function of TRPM channels in pulmonary hypertension have not been characterized in detail. Methods: We examined the expression of TRPM channels and characterized the functions of the altered TRPM channels in two widely used rat models of chronic hypoxia (CH)- and monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PH. Results: CH-exposed and MCT-treated rats developed severe PH and right ventricular hypertrophy, with a significant decrease in TRPM8 mRNA and protein expression in pulmonary arteries (PAs). The downregulation of TRPM8 was associated with significant reduction in menthol-induced cation-influx. Time-profiles showed that TRPM8 down-regulation occurred prior to the increase of right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and right ventricular mass index (RVMI) in CH-exposed rats, but these changes were delayed in MCT-treated rats. The TRPM8 agonist menthol induced vasorelaxation in phenylephrine-precontracted PAs, and the vasorelaxing effects were significantly attenuated in PAs of both PH rat models, consistent with decreased TRPM8 expression. Conclusion: Downregulation of TRPM8 may contribute to the enhanced vasoreactivity in PH.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 892-904 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 2013 |
Keywords
- Calcium signaling
- Chronic hypoxia
- Menthol
- Monocrotaline
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Transient receptor potential melastatin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology