Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 4 is an ion channel protein that in humans is encoded by the ''TRPV4''

gene In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a ba ...

. The ''TRPV4'' gene encodes TRPV4, initially named "vanilloid-receptor related osmotically activated channel" (VR-OAC) and "OSM9-like

transient receptor potential Transient receptor potential channels (TRP channels) are a group of ion channels located mostly on the plasma membrane of numerous animal cell types. Most of these are grouped into two broad groups: Group 1 includes TRPC ( "C" for canonical), TR ...

channel Channel, channels, channeling, etc., may refer to: Geography * Channel (geography), in physical geography, a landform consisting of the outline (banks) of the path of a narrow body of water. Australia * Channel Country, region of outback Austral ...

, member 4 (OTRPC4)", a member of the vanilloid subfamily in the

(TRP) superfamily of

ion channel Ion channels are pore-forming membrane proteins that allow ions to pass through the channel pore. Their functions include establishing a resting membrane potential, shaping action potentials and other electrical signals by gating the flow of io ...

s. The encoded protein is a Ca²⁺-permeable, nonselective cation channel that has been found involved in multiple physiologic functions, dysfunctions and also disease. It functions in the regulation of systemic osmotic pressure by the brain, in vascular function, in liver, intestinal, renal and bladder function, in skin barrier function and response of the skin to ultraviolet-B radiation, in growth and structural integrity of the skeleton, in function of joints, in airway- and lung function, in retinal and inner ear function, and in pain. The channel is activated by osmotic, mechanical and chemical cues. It also responds to thermal changes (warmth). Channel activation can be sensitized by inflammation and injury. The ''TRPV4'' gene has been co-discovered by W. Liedtke et al. and R. Strotmann et al.

Clinical significance

Channelopathy

mutation In biology, a mutation is an alteration in the nucleic acid sequence of the genome of an organism, virus, or extrachromosomal DNA. Viral genomes contain either DNA or RNA. Mutations result from errors during DNA or viral replication, mi ...

s in the ''TRPV4'' gene lead to skeletal dysplasias, premature osteoarthritis, and neurological motor function disorders and are associated with a range of disorders, including brachyolmia type 3,

congenital distal spinal muscular atrophy Congenital distal spinal muscular atrophy is a hereditary condition characterized by muscle wasting (atrophy), particularly of distal muscles in legs and hands, and by early-onset contractures (permanent shortening of a muscle or joint) of the ...

, scapuloperoneal spinal muscular atrophy, and subtype 2C of

Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT) is a hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy of the peripheral nervous system characterized by progressive loss of muscle tissue and touch sensation across various parts of the body. This disease is the mos ...

Pharmacology

A number of TRPV4 agonists and antagonists have been identified since its discovery. The discovery of unselective modulators (e.g. antagonist

Ruthenium red The inorganic dye ammoniated ruthenium oxychloride, also known as ruthenium red, is used in histology to stain aldehyde fixed mucopolysaccharides. Ruthenium red (RR) has also been used as a pharmacological tool to study specific cellular mechani ...

) was followed by the apparition of more potent (agonist 4aPDD) or selective (antagonist RN-1734) compounds, including some with bioavailability suitable for in vivo pharmacology studies such as agonist

GSK1016790A GSK1016790A (aka GSK101) is a drug developed by GlaxoSmithKline which acts as a potent and selective agonist for the TRPV4 receptor. It has been used to study the role of TRPV4 receptors in the function of smooth muscle tissue, particularly th ...

(with ~10 fold selectivity vs TRPV1), and antagonists

HC-067047 HC-067047 is a drug which acts as a potent and selective antagonist for the TRPV4 receptor. It has been used to investigate the role of TRPV4 receptors in a number of areas, such as regulation of blood pressure, bladder function and some forms of ...

(with ~5 fold selectivity vs hERG and ~10 fold selectivity vs TRPM8) and

RN-9893 RN-9893 is a drug which acts as a potent and selective blocker of the TRPV4 ion channel. It has been used to investigate the role of TRPV4 channels in the function of heart valves. See also * HC-067047 HC-067047 is a drug which acts as a p ...

(with ~50 fold selectivity vs TRPM8 and ~10 fold selectivity vs M1). Resolvin D1 (RvD1), a metabolite of the

omega 3 fatty acid Omega−3 fatty acids, also called Omega-3 oils, ω−3 fatty acids or ''n''−3 fatty acids, are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) characterized by the presence of a double bond, three atoms away from the terminal methyl group in their chem ...

docosahexaenoic acid Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid that is a primary structural component of the human brain, cerebral cortex, skin, and retina. In physiological literature, it is given the name 22:6(n-3). It can be synthesized from alpha-lino ...

, is a member of the

specialized proresolving mediators Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPM, also termed specialized proresolving mediators) are a large and growing class of cell signaling molecules formed in cells by the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) by one or a combination of ...

(SPMs) class of metabolites that function to resolve diverse inflammatory reactions and diseases in animal models and, it is proposed, humans. This SPM also dampens pain perception arising from various inflammation-based causes in animal models. The mechanism behind this pain-dampening effect involves the inhibition of TRPV4, probably (in at least certain cases) by an indirect effect wherein it activates another receptor located on neurons or nearby

microglia Microglia are a type of neuroglia (glial cell) located throughout the brain and spinal cord. Microglia account for about 7% of cells found within the brain. As the resident macrophage cells, they act as the first and main form of active immune de ...

astrocyte Astrocytes (from Ancient Greek , , "star" + , , "cavity", "cell"), also known collectively as astroglia, are characteristic star-shaped glial cells in the brain and spinal cord. They perform many functions, including biochemical control of endo ...

CMKLR1 Chemokine like receptor 1 also known as ChemR23 (Chemerin Receptor 23) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''CMKLR1'' gene. Chemokine receptor-like 1 is a G protein-coupled receptor for the chemoattractant adipokine chemerin and the ome ...

GPR32 G protein-coupled receptor 32, also known as GPR32 or the RvD1 receptor, is a human receptor (biochemistry) belonging to the rhodopsin-like subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. Gene The ''GPR32'' was initially identified and defined by mo ...

FPR2 N-formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) located on the surface of many cell types of various animal species. The human receptor protein is encoded by the ''FPR2'' gene and is activated to regulate cell function ...

, and

NMDA receptor The ''N''-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (also known as the NMDA receptor or NMDAR), is a glutamate receptor and ion channel found in neurons. The NMDA receptor is one of three types of ionotropic glutamate receptors, the other two being AMPA rece ...

s have been proposed to be the receptors through which a SPM may operate to

down-regulate In the biology, biological context of organisms' regulation of gene expression, production of gene products, downregulation is the process by which a cell (biology), cell decreases the quantity of a cellular component, such as RNA or protein, in r ...

TRPs and thereby pain perception.

Interactions

TRPV4 has been shown to

interact Advocates for Informed Choice, dba interACT or interACT Advocates for Intersex Youth, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization using innovative strategies to advocate for the legal and human rights of children with intersex traits. The organizati ...

with

MAP7 Ensconsin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''MAP7'' gene. Function The product of this gene is a microtubule-associated protein that is predominantly expressed in cells of epithelial origin. Microtubule-associated proteins are thou ...

and LYN.

References

External links

GeneReviews/NCBI/NIH/UW entry on Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy Type 2
* {{Transient receptor potential channel modulators Ion channels