Region-specific changes in the distribution of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 channel (TRPV4) in the central nervous system of Alzheimer’s disease model mice

• Published in: Genes & genomics 2016, 38(7), , pp.629-637
• Main Authors: Lee, Jae Chul, Choe, Soo Young
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Genetics and Genomics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Human Genetics; Life Sciences; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Research Article; 생물학
• ISSN: 1976-9571; 2092-9293
• DOI: 10.1007/s13258-016-0389-3

Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) channel is expressed in the central nervous system and its role in development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is largely unknown. To identify AD-related changes in the TRPV4 channel distribution in the central nervous system, we investigated the distribution and level changes of TRPV4 in brains of AD model mice. The expressions of TRPV4 in the brain of control mice, early stage and late stage AD model mice were compared using immunohistochemistry with antibodies recognizing TRPV4 on free floating sections and in addition we performed western blotting to supplement our findings. TRPV4 immunoreactivity was significantly increased in the cerebral cortex, hippocampal formation, striatum and thalamus of AD model mice compared with control mice. In the cerebral cortex, TRPV4 immunoreactivity was significantly increased in pyramidal cells of early stage and late stage AD model mice. In addition, TRPV4 immunoreactivity was increased in the hippocampal formation, striatum and thalamus of late stage AD model mice. This is the first demonstration of AD-related increases in TRPV4 expression in the brain and it may provide useful data for investigating the pathogenesis of AD-related neurodegenerative diseases. The regulation of TRPV4 in AD mouse model and its functional significance require further investigation.