TMAO Impairs Mouse Aortic Vasodilation by Inhibiting TRPV4 Channels in Endothelial Cells.

Abstract

Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) is an intestinal flora metabolite associated with risk of cardiovascular diseases. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is a Ca²⁺-permeable ion channel that is essential for vasodilation and endothelial function. Currently, there are few studies on the effect of TMAO on TRPV4 channels. In the present study, Ca²⁺ imaging of vascular tissue showed that TMAO inhibited TRPV4-mediated Ca²⁺ influx into aortic endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, a whole-cell patch clamp assay showed that TMAO blocked TRPV4-mediated cation currents. Notably, results of aortic vascular tension measurement showed that TMAO impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in mouse aortic vessels through the TRPV4-NO pathway. Our results indicated that TMAO inhibited Ca²⁺ entry in endothelial cells and impaired vasodilation through the TRPV4-NO pathway in mice. These results provide scientific evidence for novel pathogenic mechanisms underlying the role of TMAO in cardiovascular disease.