Role of endothelial TRPV4 channels in vascular actions of the endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Metabolites of the endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) have been postulated to act as endogenous activators of TRPV4, a Ca2+-permeable cation channel that plays a critical role in endothelium-dependent relaxation. However, it is unclear if TRPV4 contributes to the vascular actions of 2-AG. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Isometric tension recording of rat small mesenteric arteries and aortae were used to assess the effect of 2-AG and the synthetic TRPV4 activator, GSK1016790A (GSK) on vascular reactivity. Changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and single-channel currents were measured in TRPV4-expressing human coronary endothelial cells. KEY RESULTS In mesenteric arteries, endothelium-dependent relaxation to both 2-AG and GSK was attenuated by structurally distinct TRPV4 antagonists, HC067047, RN1734 and ruthenium red. The responses were inhibited by K-Ca inhibitors (apamin + charybdotoxin) and a gap junction inhibitor (18 alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid). In contrast to GSK, 2-AG elicited considerable relaxation independently of the endothelium or TRPV4. Inhibition of 2-AG metabolism via monoacylglycerol lipase and COX (by MAFP and indomethacin) caused potentiation, while cytochrome P450 and lipoxygenase inhibitors had no effect on 2-AG relaxation. In coronary endothelial cells, 2-AG (with and without MAFP) induced HC067047-sensitive increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. 2-AG also increased TRPV4 channel opening in inside-out patches. However, in aortae, GSK induced a relaxation sensitive to HC067047 and ruthenium red, whereas 2-AG induced contractions. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These data suggest that 2-AG can directly activate endothelial TRPV4, which partly contributes to the relaxant response to 2-AG. However, the functional role of TRPV4 is highly dependent on the vascular region.