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Decidualization is an ovarian steroid-induced remodeling/differentiation process of uterus essential for embryo implantation and placentation. Here, we investigated the possible involvement of enhanced Ca2+ dynamics in the decidualization process in human endometrial stromal cells (hESC) in its connection with a recently emerging nonvoltage-gated Ca2+ entry channel superfamily, the transient receptor potential (TRP) protein. Combined application of 17β-estradiol (E2) (10 nm) and progesterone (P4) (1 μm) for 7–14 d resulted in morphological changes of hESC characteristic of decidualization (i.e. cell size increase), whereas sole application of E2 exerted little effects. A 7- to 14-d E2/P4 treatment greatly increased the expression level of decidualization markers IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) and prolactin and also up-regulated the expression of TRPC1, a canonical TRP subfamily member that has been implicated in store-operated Ca2+ influx (SOC) in other cell types. In parallel with this up-regulation, SOC activity in hESC, the nuclear translocation of phosphorylated cAMP responsive element binding protein (p-CREB) and the expression of Forkhead box protein 01 were enhanced significantly. Small interfering RNA knockdown of TRPC1 counteracted the E2/P4-induced up-regulation of IGFBP-1 and prolactin and enhancement of SOC activity together with the inhibition of hESC size increase, p-CREB nuclear translocation, and FOXO1 up-regulation. Coadministration of SOC inhibitors SK&F96365 or Gd3+ with E2/P4 also suppressed the up-regulation of IGFBP-1 and hESC size increase. Similar inhibitory effects were observed with extracellularly applied TRPC1 extracellular loop 3-directed antibody, which is known to bind a near-pore domain of TRPC1 channel and block its Ca2+ transporting activity. These results strongly suggest that up-regulation of TRPC1 protein and consequent enhancement of SOC-mediated Ca2+ influx may serve as a crucial step for the decidualization process of hESC probably via p-CREB-dependent transcriptional activity associated with FOXO1 activation.

TRPタンパク質は電位変化以外の種々の物理化学刺激で活性化されるCa2+透過型非特異的陽イオンチャネルであり，感覚伝導を始め種々の生体機能とその破綻による病態に関与していると推測されている．最近の研究成果から，TRPタンパク質（チャネル）のうちの多くが，低浸透圧，ずり応力などの機械刺激で活性化されることが明らかとなってきた．興味深いことに，そのうちの多くが，血圧・血流変化等の機械刺激に暴露されている心血管系に発現している．しかし，これらの機械刺激感受性TRPチャネルがどのような分子機序によって活性化されるのか不明であった．本稿では，心血管系全般に亘って高レベルで発現し，血管緊張度，心血管のリモデリング等に密接に関与していることが明らかとなってきたTRPC6タンパク質に焦点を絞り，このチャネルタンパク質が受容体刺激，機械刺激の協働作用によって極めて効率的に活性化され，その分子機序として，PLC/ジアシルグリセロール（DAG）系とPLA2/ω-hydroxylase/20-HETE系のクロストークが重要であるという我々の仮説を中心に，心血管TRPタンパク質を巡る機械情報伝達のトピックスを紹介する．

We investigated the inhibitory role of the nitric oxide (NO)–cGMP–protein kinase G (PKG) pathway on receptor-activated TRPC6 channels in both a heterologous expression system (HEK293 cells) and A7r5 vascular myocytes. Cationic currents due to TRPC6 expression were strongly suppressed (by ∼70%) by a NO donor SNAP (100 μm) whether it was applied prior to muscarinic receptor stimulation with carbachol (CCh; 100 μm) or after G-protein activation with intracellular perfusion of GTPγS (100 μm). A similar extent of suppression was also observed with a membrane-permeable analogue of cGMP, 8Br-cGMP (100 μm). The inhibitory effects of SNAP and 8Br-cGMP on TRPC6 channel currents were strongly attenuated by the presence of inhibitors for guanylyl cyclase and PKG such as ODQ, KT5823 and DT3. Alanine substitution for the PKG phosphorylation candidate site at T69 but not at other sites (T14A, S28A, T193A, S321A) of TRPC6 similarly attenuated the inhibitory effects of SNAP and 8Br-cGMP. SNAP also significantly reduced single TRPC6 channel activity recorded in the inside-out configuration in a PKG-dependent manner. SNAP-induced PKG activation stimulated the incorporation of 32P into wild-type and S321A-mutant TRPC6 proteins immunoprecipitated by TRPC6-specific antibody, but this was greatly attenuated in the T69A mutant. SNAP or 8Br-cGMP strongly suppressed TRPC6-like cation currents and membrane depolarization evoked by Arg8-vasopressin in A7r5 myocytes. These results strongly suggest that TRPC6 channels can be negatively regulated by the NO–cGMP–PKG pathway, probably via T69 phosphorylation of the N-terminal. This mechanism may be physiologically important in vascular tissues where NO is constantly released from vascular endothelial cells or nitrergic nerves.

The most common fetal neck masses include teratomas and lymphangiomas. Goiters and hemangiomas are relatively rare. 1 Correct diagnosis of tumor type is important because these neck tumors differ in prognosis and treatment. The prenatal diagnosis of cavernous hemangiomas in the fetal neck has been reported previously. 2,3 The characteristic sonographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of cavernous hemangiomas are increased or pulsatile flow signals in the mass with hyperintensity on T2-weighed images. However, the prenatal sonographic and MRI features of capillary hemangiomas are not well described. In this report, we describe a giant fetal neck capillary hemangioma associated with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (KMS) and discuss the prenatal sonographic and MRI features of capillary hemangiomas.

TNF-α-NF-κB signaling plays a central role in inflammation, apoptosis, and neoplasia. One major consequence of this signaling in the gut is increased production of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) via cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) induction in myofibroblasts, which has been reported to be dependent on Ca2+. In this study, we explored a potential role of canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) proteins in this Ca2+-mediated signaling using a human colonic myofibroblast cell line CCD-18Co. In CCD-18Co cell, treatment with TNF-α greatly enhanced Ca2+influx induced by store depletion along with increased cell-surface expression of TRPC1 protein (but not of the other TRPC isoforms) and induction of a Gd3+-sensitive nonselective cationic conductance. Selective inhibition of TRPC1 expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) or functionally effective TRPC1 antibody targeting the near-pore region of TRPC1 (T1E3) antagonized the enhancement of store-dependent Ca2+influx by TNF-α, whereas potentiated TNF-α induced PGE2production. Overexpression of TRPC1 in CCD-18Co produced opposite consequences. Inhibitors of NF-κB (curcumin, SN-50) attenuated TNF-α-induced enhancement of TRPC1 expression, store-dependent Ca2+influx, and COX-2-dependent PGE2production. In contrast, inhibition of calcineurin-nuclear factor of activated T-cell proteins (NFAT) signaling by FK506 or NFAT Activation Inhibitor III enhanced the PGE2production without affecting TRPC1 expression and the Ca2+influx. Finally, the suppression of store-dependent Ca2+influx by T1E3 antibody or siRNA knockdown significantly facilitated TNF-α-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation. In aggregate, these results strongly suggest that, in colonic myofibroblasts, NF-κB and NFAT serve as important positive and negative transcriptional regulators of TNF-α-induced COX-2-dependent PGE2production, respectively, at the downstream of TRPC1-associated Ca2+influx.

TRPC6 is a non–voltage-gated Ca 2+ entry/depolarization channel associated with vascular tone regulation and remodeling. Expressed TRPC6 channel responds to both neurohormonal and mechanical stimuli, the mechanism for which remains controversial. In this study, we examined the possible interactions of receptor and mechanical stimulations in activating this channel using the patch clamp technique. In HEK293 cells expressing TRPC6, application of mechanical stimuli (hypotonicity, shear, 2,4,6-trinitrophenol) caused, albeit not effective by themselves, a prominent potentiation of cationic currents ( I TRPC6 ) induced by a muscarinic receptor agonist carbachol. This effect was insensitive to a tarantula toxin GsMTx-4 (5 μmol/L). A similar extent of mechanical potentiation was observed after activation of I TRPC6 by GTPγS or a diacylglycerol analog 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl- sn -glycerol (OAG). Single TRPC6 channel activity evoked by carbachol was also enhanced by a negative pressure added in the patch pipette. Mechanical potentiation of carbachol- or OAG-induced I TRPC6 was abolished by small interfering RNA knockdown of cytosolic phospholipase A 2 or pharmacological inhibition of ω-hydroxylation of arachidonic acid into 20-HETE (20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid). Conversely, direct application of 20-HETE enhanced both OAG-induced macroscopic and single channel TRPC6 currents. Essentially the same results were obtained for TRPC6-like cation channel in A7r5 myocytes, where its activation by noradrenaline or Arg8 vasopressin was greatly enhanced by mechanical stimuli via 20-HETE production. Furthermore, myogenic response of pressurized mesenteric artery was significantly enhanced by weak receptor stimulation dependently on 20-HETE production. These results collectively suggest that simultaneous operation of receptor and mechanical stimulations may synergistically amplify transmembrane Ca 2+ mobilization through TRPC6 activation, thereby enhancing the vascular tone via phospholipase C/diacylglycerol and phospholipase A 2 /ω-hydroxylase/20-HETE pathways.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) proteins constitute a large non-voltage-gated cation channel superfamily, activated polymodally by various physicochemical stimuli, and are implicated in a variety of cellular functions. Known activators for TRP include not only chemical stimuli such as receptor stimulation, increased acidity and pungent/cooling agents, but temperature change and various forms of mechanical stimuli such as osmotic stress, membrane stretch, and shear force. Recent investigations have revealed that at least ten mammalian TRPs exhibit mechanosensitivity (TRPC1, 5, 6; TRPV1, 2, 4; TRPM3, 7; TRPA1; TRPP2), but the mechanisms underlying it appear considerably divergent and complex. The proposed mechanisms are associated with lipid bilayer mechanics, specialized force-transducing structures, biochemical reactions, membrane trafficking and transcriptional regulation. Many of mechanosensitive (MS)-TRP channel likely undergo multiple regulations via these mechanisms. In the cardiovascular system in which hemodynamic forces constantly operate, the impact of mechanical stress may be particularly significant. Extensive morphological and functional studies have indicated that several MS-TRP channels are expressed in cardiac muscle, vascular smooth muscle, endothelium and vasosensory neurons, each differentially contributing to cardiovascular (CV) functions. To further complexity, the recent evidence suggests that mechanical stress may synergize with neurohormonal mechanisms thereby amplifying otherwise marginal responses. Furthermore, the currently available data suggest that MS-TRP channels may be involved in CV pathophysiology such as cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac hypertrophy/myopathy, hypertension and aneurysms. This review will overview currently known mechanisms for mechanical activation/modulation of TRPs and possible connections of MS-TRP channels to CV disorders.

We investigated the inhibitory role of the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP-protein kinase G (PKG) pathway on receptor-activated TRPC6 channels in both a heterologous expression system (HEK293 cells) and A7r5 vascular myocytes. Cationic currents due to TRPC6 expression were strongly suppressed (by approximately 70%) by a NO donor SNAP (100 microm) whether it was applied prior to muscarinic receptor stimulation with carbachol (CCh; 100 microm) or after G-protein activation with intracellular perfusion of GTPgammaS (100 microm). A similar extent of suppression was also observed with a membrane-permeable analogue of cGMP, 8Br-cGMP (100 microm). The inhibitory effects of SNAP and 8Br-cGMP on TRPC6 channel currents were strongly attenuated by the presence of inhibitors for guanylyl cyclase and PKG such as ODQ, KT5823 and DT3. Alanine substitution for the PKG phosphorylation candidate site at T69 but not at other sites (T14A, S28A, T193A, S321A) of TRPC6 similarly attenuated the inhibitory effects of SNAP and 8Br-cGMP. SNAP also significantly reduced single TRPC6 channel activity recorded in the inside-out configuration in a PKG-dependent manner. SNAP-induced PKG activation stimulated the incorporation of (32)P into wild-type and S321A-mutant TRPC6 proteins immunoprecipitated by TRPC6-specific antibody, but this was greatly attenuated in the T69A mutant. SNAP or 8Br-cGMP strongly suppressed TRPC6-like cation currents and membrane depolarization evoked by Arg(8)-vasopressin in A7r5 myocytes. These results strongly suggest that TRPC6 channels can be negatively regulated by the NO-cGMP-PKG pathway, probably via T69 phosphorylation of the N-terminal. This mechanism may be physiologically important in vascular tissues where NO is constantly released from vascular endothelial cells or nitrergic nerves.