Suppression of transient receptor potential melastatin 4 expression promotes conversion of endothelial cells into fibroblasts via transforming growth factor/activin receptor-like kinase 5 pathway.

OBJECTIVE

To study whether transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) participates in endothelial fibrosis and to investigate the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Primary human endothelial cells were used and pharmacological and short interfering RNA-based approaches were used to test the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)/activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5) pathway participation and contribution of TRPM7 ion channel.

RESULTS

Suppression of TRPM4 expression leads to decreased endothelial protein expression and increased expression of fibrotic and extracellular matrix markers. Furthermore, TRPM4 downregulation increases intracellular Ca levels as a potential condition for fibrosis. The underlying mechanism of endothelial fibrosis shows that inhibition of TRPM4 expression induces TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 expression, which act through their receptor, ALK5, and the nuclear translocation of the profibrotic transcription factor smad4.

CONCLUSION

TRPM4 acts to maintain endothelial features and its loss promotes fibrotic conversion via TGF-β production. The regulation of TRPM4 levels could be a target for preserving endothelial function during inflammatory diseases.