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Bernd Nilius answers a
few questions about this month's fast breaking paper in the field of
Biology & Biochemistry.
From
•>>December 2003
Field:
Biology & Biochemistry
Article Title: Heat-evoked activation of TRPV4 channels in a HEK293 cell expression system and in native mouse aorta endothelial cells
Authors: Watanabe, H;Vriens, J;Suh, SH;Benham, CD;Droogmans, G;Nilius, B
Journal: J BIOL CHEM
Volume: 277
Page: 47044-47051
Year: DEC 6 2002
* Katholieke Univ Leuven, Fysiol Lab, Dept
Physiol, Campus Gasthuisberg , Herestr 49, B-3000 Louvain, Belgium.
* Katholieke Univ Leuven, Fysiol Lab, Dept Physiol, B-3000
Louvain, Belgium.
* GlaxoSmithKline, Neurol CEDD, Harlow CM19 5AW, Essex, England.
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 Why
do you think your paper is highly cited?
TRPV channels are now in the focus of the scientific society.
They are maybe the last fortress of ion channels! This paper
shows for the first time that activation of these channels is
promiscuous, e.g., they respond to several stimuli.
Does
it describe a new discovery or a new methodology that's useful to
others?
The new discovery is that TRPV4 channels can sense
temperature in a physiological range, e.g.
between 25º
Centigrade and 42º
Centigrade. This is
unexpected and new! Thus, these channels are activated by
temperature and might be open at the physiological body core
temperature!
Could
you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?
TRPV4 channels are Ca influx channels. They are involved in
triggering several cell responses. We show in this paper that
endothelial cells, which line our blood vessels, express this
channel. Activation of this channel might be involved in
endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. This TRPV4 is a novel tool
for blood pressure control and a novel target for
antihypertensives.
How did you become involved in this
research?
Over the past 20 years, I have concentrated my research
efforts on the study of different kinds of Ca entry channels. As
a starting point, in 1985 I discovered a novel type of Ca
channel, the T-type Ca channel. My group now specializes in
researching the novel family of Ca entry channels—the TRP or
"transient receptor potential channels."
Bernd Nilius, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Physiology
KU Leuven, Department of Physiology
Campus Gasthuisberg
LEUVEN, Belgium
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ESI Special Topics,
December 2003
Citing URL - http://www.esi-topics.com/fbp/2003/december03-BerndNilius.html
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