The transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) ion channel mediates protease activated receptor 1 (PAR1)-induced vascular hyperpermeability.

Endothelial barrier disruption is a hallmark of tissue injury, edema, and inflammation. Vascular endothelial cells express the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) protease acctivated receptor 1 (PAR1) and the ion channel transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), and these signaling proteins are known to respond to inflammatory conditions and promote edema through remodeling of cell-cell junctions and modulation of endothelial barriers. It has previously been established that signaling initiated by the related protease activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is enhanced by TRPV4 in sensory neurons and that this functional interaction plays a critical role in the development of neurogenic inflammation and nociception. Here, we investigated the PAR1-TRPV4 axis, to determine if TRPV4 plays a similar role in the control of edema mediated by thrombin-induced signaling. Using Evans Blue permeation and retention as an indication of increased vascular permeability in vivo, we showed that TRPV4 contributes to PAR1-induced vascular hyperpermeability in the airways and upper gastrointestinal tract of mice. TRPV4 contributes to sustained PAR1-induced Ca2+ signaling in recombinant cell systems and to PAR1-dependent endothelial junction remodeling in vitro. This study supports the role of GPCR-TRP channel functional interactions in inflammatory-associated changes to vascular function and indicates that TRPV4 is a signaling effector for multiple PAR family members.