Frontiers in Immunology (Jun 2020)

The Role of TRPV4 in Regulating Innate Immune Cell Function in Lung Inflammation

  • Rachel G. Scheraga,
  • Rachel G. Scheraga,
  • Brian D. Southern,
  • Brian D. Southern,
  • Lisa M. Grove,
  • Mitchell A. Olman,
  • Mitchell A. Olman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01211
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

Read online

Ion channels/pumps are essential regulators of innate immune cell function. Macrophages have been increasingly recognized to have phenotypic plasticity and location-specific functions in the lung. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) function in lung injury has been shown to be stimulus- and cell-type specific. In the current review, we discuss the importance of TRPV4 in macrophages and its role in phagocytosis and cytokine secretion in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Furthermore, TRPV4 controls a MAPK molecular switch from predominately c-Jun N-terminal kinase, JNK activation, to that of p38 activation, that mediates phagocytosis and cytokine secretion in a matrix stiffness-dependent manner. Expanding knowledge regarding the downstream mechanisms by which TRPV4 acts to tailor macrophage function in pulmonary inflammatory diseases will allow for formulation of novel therapeutics.

Keywords