Transient receptor potential melastatin 2 protects mice against polymicrobial sepsis by enhancing bacterial clearance

XiaoWei Qian1, Tomohiro Numata, Kai Zhang

  • 1From the Department of Anaesthesia, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (X.Q., K.Z., C.L., J.H., X.F.); and Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan (T.N., Y.M.).

Anesthesiology
|May 1, 2014
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) channel protects against sepsis by enhancing bacterial clearance, potentially through regulating heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. TRPM2 deficiency increases sepsis mortality and bacterial burden.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pathophysiology

Background:

  • The transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) channel is implicated in inflammation and immune responses.
  • The specific role and mechanism of TRPM2 in polymicrobial sepsis are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of TRPM2 in polymicrobial sepsis using a mouse model.
  • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of TRPM2's function in sepsis, including its relationship with heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1).

Main Methods:

  • Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model in Trpm2-knockout and wild-type mice.
  • Assessment of mortality, bacterial clearance, organ injury, and systemic inflammation.
  • Analysis of TRPM2-mediated calcium influx and HO-1 expression in macrophages and patient samples using electrophysiology, immunoblotting, qPCR, and correlation studies.

Main Results:

  • Trpm2-knockout mice exhibited significantly increased mortality, bacterial burden, organ injury, and systemic inflammation compared to wild-type mice after CLP.
  • TRPM2 mediates calcium influx crucial for lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HO-1 expression in macrophages. HO-1 upregulation reduced bacterial burden.
  • Septic patients with lower TRPM2 and HO-1 mRNA levels showed worse outcomes, with TRPM2 levels correlating positively with HO-1 levels.

Conclusions:

  • TRPM2 plays a protective role in polymicrobial sepsis by enhancing bacterial clearance.
  • TRPM2 regulates HO-1 expression, which is critical for controlling bacterial burden during sepsis.
  • TRPM2 and HO-1 represent potential therapeutic targets for sepsis management.