Dietary polyphenols have been associated with many beneficial cardiovascular effects. However, these effects are rather attributed to small phenolic metabolites formed by the gut microbiota, which reach sufficient concentrations in systemic circulation. 4-Methylcatechol (4-MC) is one such metabolite. As it is shown to possess considerable vasorelaxant effects, this study aimed to unravel its mechanism of action. To this end, experimental and approaches were employed. In the first step, isometric tension recordings were performed on rat aortic rings. 4-MC potentiated the effect of cyclic nucleotides, but the effect was not mediated by either soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), modification of cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels, or protein kinase G. Hence, downstream targets such as calcium or potassium channels were considered. Inhibition of voltage-gated K channels (K) markedly decreased the effect of 4-MC, and vasodilation was partly decreased by inhibition of the K7 isoform. Contrarily, other types of K channels or L-type Ca channels were not involved. reverse docking confirmed that 4-MC binds to K7.4 through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. In particular, it interacts with two crucial residues for K7.4 activation: Trp242 and Phe246. In summary, our findings suggested that 4-MC exerts vasorelaxation by opening K channels with the involvement of K7.4.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d3fo04672a | DOI Listing |
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