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Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 channel expression in chronic rhinosinusitis
Geeta Bhargave1, Bradford A Woodworth, Guoxiang Xiong
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
American Journal of Rhinology
|February 21, 2008
Summary
Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) is expressed in the nasal mucosa but not in ciliated cells. Its expression is altered in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), suggesting a role in mucus homeostasis and CRS pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Physiology
- Otorhinolaryngology
Background:
- Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are non-voltage gated membrane cation channels activated by mechanical and thermal stimuli.
- TRP vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) channels are implicated in detecting viscosity and modulating ciliary activity.
- TRPV4's role in respiratory ciliary modulation suggests investigation in sinonasal mucosa.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the expression pattern of TRPV4 in human sinonasal mucosa.
- To investigate alterations in TRPV4 expression in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).
Main Methods:
- Sinus mucosal biopsy specimens from CRS, CRS with nasal polyps (NPs), and healthy controls.
- TRPV4 mRNA and protein expression analyzed by RT-PCR and immunoblotting.
- Cellular localization via immunofluorescence on explants and air-liquid interface cultures.
Main Results:
- TRPV4 mRNA and protein were detected in all sinonasal mucosal samples.
- Significantly increased TRPV4 gene expression was observed in nonpolypoid CRS patients (p < 0.05).
- TRPV4 expression was found to be mutually exclusive of ciliated cells.
Conclusions:
- Absent TRPV4 expression in ciliated cells precludes its function as a direct modulator of ciliary activity.
- Altered TRPV4 expression in CRS, potentially in secretory cells, suggests a role in mucus homeostasis.
- TRPV4 may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis.
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