NGF increases Connexin-43 expression and function in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells to induce pulmonary artery hyperreactivity.

Aims: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterised by an increase in pulmonary arterial pressure, ultimately leading to right ventricular failure and death. We have previously shown that nerve growth factor (NGF) plays a critical role in PH. Our objectives here were to determine whether NGF controls Connexin-43 (Cx43) expression and function in the pulmonary arterial smooth muscle, and whether this mechanism contributes to NGF-induced pulmonary artery hyperreactivity.

Pathophysiological Roles of the TRPV4 Channel in the Heart.

The transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channel is a non-selective cation channel that is mostly permeable to calcium (Ca), which participates in intracellular Ca handling in cardiac cells. It is widely expressed through the body and is activated by a large spectrum of physicochemical stimuli, conferring it a role in a variety of sensorial and physiological functions. Within the cardiovascular system, TRPV4 expression is reported in cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), where it modulates mitochondrial activity, Ca homeostasis, cardiomyocytes electrical activity and contractility, cardiac embryonic development and fibroblast proliferation, as well as vascular permeability, dilatation and constriction.

OP2113, a new drug for chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension treatment in rat.

Background And Purpose: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a cardiovascular disease characterised by an increase in pulmonary arterial (PA) resistance leading to right ventricular (RV) failure. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in PH. OP2113 is a drug with beneficial effects on cardiac injuries that targets mitochondrial ROS.

Correction: The Naturally Processed CD95L Elicits a c-Yes/Calcium/PI3K-Driven Cell Migration Pathway.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.

Genetically-encoded BRET probes shed light on ligand bias-induced variable ion selectivity in TRPV1 and P2X5/7.

Whether ion channels experience ligand-dependent dynamic ion selectivity remains of critical importance since this could support ion channel functional bias. Tracking selective ion permeability through ion channels, however, remains challenging even with patch-clamp electrophysiology. In this study, we have developed highly sensitive bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) probes providing dynamic measurements of Ca and K concentrations and ionic strength in the nanoenvironment of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid-1 Channel (TRPV1) and P2X channel pores in real time and in live cells during drug challenges.