TLR4 activation of TRPC6-dependent calcium signaling mediates endotoxin-induced lung vascular permeability and inflammation

J Exp Med. 2012 Oct 22;209(11):1953-68. doi: 10.1084/jem.20111355. Epub 2012 Oct 8.

Abstract

Lung vascular endothelial barrier disruption and the accompanying inflammation are primary pathogenic features of acute lung injury (ALI); however, the basis for the development of both remains unclear. Studies have shown that activation of transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels induces Ca(2+) entry, which is essential for increased endothelial permeability. Here, we addressed the role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) intersection with TRPC6-dependent Ca(2+) signaling in endothelial cells (ECs) in mediating lung vascular leakage and inflammation. We find that the endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS) induces Ca(2+) entry in ECs in a TLR4-dependent manner. Moreover, deletion of TRPC6 renders mice resistant to endotoxin-induced barrier dysfunction and inflammation, and protects against sepsis-induced lethality. TRPC6 induces Ca(2+) entry in ECs, which is secondary to the generation of diacylglycerol (DAG) induced by LPS. Ca(2+) entry mediated by TRPC6, in turn, activates the nonmuscle myosin light chain kinase (MYLK), which not only increases lung vascular permeability but also serves as a scaffold to promote the interaction of myeloid differentiation factor 88 and IL-1R-associated kinase 4, which are required for NF-κB activation and lung inflammation. Our findings suggest that TRPC6-dependent Ca(2+) entry into ECs, secondary to TLR4-induced DAG generation, participates in mediating both lung vascular barrier disruption and inflammation induced by endotoxin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium Signaling
  • Capillary Permeability / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Diglycerides / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Immunoblotting
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / toxicity
  • Lung / blood supply
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / metabolism
  • Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase / genetics
  • Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • TRPC Cation Channels / genetics
  • TRPC Cation Channels / metabolism*
  • TRPC6 Cation Channel
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Diglycerides
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Myd88 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • NF-kappa B
  • TRPC Cation Channels
  • TRPC6 Cation Channel
  • Tlr4 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Trpc6 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases
  • Irak4 protein, mouse
  • Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase
  • Calcium