Endothelial TRPV4 channels prevent tumor growth and metastasis via modulation of tumor angiogenesis and vascular integrity.
Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is a ubiquitously expressed polymodally activated ion channel. TRPV4 has been implicated in tumor progression; however, the cell-specific role of TRPV4 in tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis is unknown. Here, we generated endothelial-specific TRPV4 knockout (TRPV4ECKO) mice by crossing TRPV4lox/lox mice with Tie2-Cre mice. Tumor growth and metastasis were significantly increased in a syngeneic Lewis lung carcinoma tumor model of TRPV4ECKO mice compared to TRPV4lox/lox mice. Multiphoton microscopy, dextran leakage, and immunohistochemical analysis revealed increased tumor angiogenesis and metastasis that were correlated with aberrant leaky vessels (increased width and reduced pericyte and VE-cadherin coverage). Mechanistically, increases in VEGFR2, p-ERK, and MMP-9 expression and DQ gelatinase activity were observed in the TRPV4ECKO mouse tumors. Our results demonstrated that endothelial TRPV4 is a critical modulator of vascular integrity and tumor angiogenesis and that deletion of TRPV4 promotes tumor angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- TRPV Cation Channels
- Oncology & Carcinogenesis
- Neovascularization, Pathologic
- Neoplasm Proteins
- Neoplasm Metastasis
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung
- Animals
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- TRPV Cation Channels
- Oncology & Carcinogenesis
- Neovascularization, Pathologic
- Neoplasm Proteins
- Neoplasm Metastasis
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung
- Animals