AKAP150‐dependent cooperative TRPV4 channel gating is central to endothelium‐dependent vasodilation and is disrupted in hypertension (678.10)

Abstract

Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction is a hallmark of hypertension. We recently discovered that local Ca2+ influx through clusters of functionally coupled TRPV4 channels (detected optically as “TRPV4 sparklets”) drives physiological vasodilation. Here, we show that stimulation of EC muscarinic receptors activated TRPV4 sparklets exclusively at discrete sites at myoendothelial projections (MEPs)—specialized regions of ECs that contact adjacent smooth muscle cells. This activation was dependent on protein kinase C (PKC) and was absent in mice lacking the PKC‐anchoring protein AKAP150 (A‐kinase anchoring protein 150), which was localized predominantly to MEPs. Cooperative gating of TRPV4 channels within a cluster amplified Ca2+ influx at MEPs by more than 2‐fold. This cooperativity was largely absent at non‐MEP sites and was virtually eliminated by chelation of intracellular Ca2+ or AKAP150 knockout, suggesting AKAP150‐dependent potentiation of TRPV4 activity by Ca2+ influx via adjacent channels. Notably, MEP‐localization of AKAP150 was disrupted in angiotensin II‐induced hypertension, leading to a complete loss of muscarinic activation of TRPV4 channels, much weaker coupling among TRPV4 channels at MEPs, and approximately an 80% reduction in carbachol‐induced vasodilation. Our results support the concept that endothelial‐dependent vasodilation of resistance arteries is enabled by MEP‐localized AKAP150, which ensures the proximity of PKC to TRPV4 channels and coupled channel gating necessary for efficient communication of the endothelium to the smooth muscle cells in arteries—a molecular configuration that is disrupted in hypertension.Grant Funding Source: Supported by HL044455, 1P01HL095488, R37DK053832, R01HL098243 to MTN