Vasoprotective effects of NOX4 are mediated via polymerase and transient receptor potential melastatin 2 cation channels in endothelial cells.

Abstract

NOX4 activation has been implicated to have vasoprotective and blood pressure (BP)-lowering effects. Molecular mechanisms underlying this are unclear, but NOX4-induced regulation of the redox-sensitive Ca2+ channel TRPM2 and effects on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-nitric oxide signalling may be important. Wild-type and LinA3, renin-expressing hypertensive mice, were crossed with NOX4 knockout mice. Vascular function was measured by myography. Generation of superoxide (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were assessed by lucigenin and amplex red, respectively, and Ca2+ influx by Cal-520 fluorescence in rat aortic endothelial cells (RAEC). BP was increased in NOX4KO, LinA3 and LinA3/NOX4KO mice. This was associated with endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodelling, with exaggerated effects in NOX4KO groups. The TRPM2 activator, ADPR, improved vascular relaxation in LinA3/NOX4KO mice, an effect recapitulated by H2O2. Inhibition of PARP and TRPM2 with olaparib and 2-APB, respectively, recapitulated endothelial dysfunction in NOX4KO. In endothelial cells, Ang II increased H2O2 generation and Ca2+ influx, effects reduced by TRPM2 siRNA, TRPM2 inhibitors (8-br-cADPR, 2-APB), olaparib and GKT137831 (NOX4 inhibitor). Ang II-induced eNOS activation was blocked by NOX4 and TRPM2 siRNA, GKT137831, PEG-catalase and 8-br-cADPR. Our findings indicate that NOX4-induced H2O2 production activates PARP/TRPM2, Ca2+ influx, eNOS activation and nitric oxide release in endothelial cells. NOX4 deficiency impairs Ca2+ homeostasis leading to endothelial dysfunction, an effect exacerbated in hypertension. We define a novel pathway linking endothelial NOX4/H2O2 to eNOS/nitric oxide through PARP/TRPM2/Ca2+. This vasoprotective pathway is perturbed when NOX4 is downregulated and may have significance in conditions associated with endothelial dysfunction, including hypertension.