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TRPV4 and the mammalian kidney
1Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Oregon Health and Science University and the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 3314 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd., Mailcode PP262, Portland, OR 97239, USA. cohend@ohsu.edu
Pflugers Archiv : European Journal of Physiology
|July 1, 2005
Summary
Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channels are key in sensing osmotic changes. Their distribution in the hypothalamus and kidney suggests a vital role in regulating body fluid balance and urine concentration.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is the mammalian homolog of C. elegans OSM-9.
- TRPV4 responds to thermal stress, fatty acids, and hypotonicity.
- Hypotonicity activates TRPV4 via Src kinases or arachidonic acid metabolites.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the role of TRPV4 in systemic osmoregulation.
- Examine TRPV4 expression in osmosensory nuclei and the kidney.
Main Methods:
- The abstract does not specify the methods used.
Main Results:
- TRPV4 is expressed in osmosensory hypothalamic nuclei.
- TRPV4 is abundant in the kidney, with distinct expression patterns along tubule segments.
- TRPV4-expressing and non-expressing segments are found throughout the renal cortex and medulla.
Conclusions:
- TRPV4 likely participates in systemic osmoregulation.
- Basolateral TRPV4 may relay interstitial signals, like tonicity changes, to distal tubules for urine fine-tuning.