Core Role of TRPC6 in Regulating Airway Re-modelling in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

RationaleThe mechanistic role of canonical transient receptor potential 6 (TRPC6) channel in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is poorly understood. ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to determine the role of TRPC6 channel in COPD and its underlying signaling mechanisms in human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). Methods and Main ResultsThe present study examined the effects of TRPC6 channel on nicotine and cigarette induced HASMCs proliferation, migration and mouse airway remodeling models. mRNA and protein expression of TRPC6 were increased in cultured HASMCs incubated with nicotine using real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Nicotine treatment significantly increased TRPC6 transcriptional activity through NF-{kappa}B in HASMCs with Co-IP and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA). Nicotine treatment also increased ROS level in HASMCs, this increase was attenuated by Nox inhibitor apocynin. miR-135a/b-5p down-regulated mRNA and protein level of TRPC6 in HASMCs, while luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-135a/b-5p targeted at the 3-UTR of TRPC6 mRNA. microRNA-135a/b-5p (miR-135a/b-5p), with a negative correlation to TRPC6 expression, was low in airway smooth muscle of COPD patients. Cigarette-induced airway remodeling mice model also exhibited a large increase in smooth muscle cell proliferation and smooth muscle layer mass with immunohistochemistry assay, this well-characterized airway remodeling was eliminated by lentivirus of TRPC6 knockdown or miR-135a/b-5p overexpression. ConclusionsNicotine exposure results in increased HASMCs proliferation and migration through NF-{kappa}B signaling. Inhalation of cigarette causes airway smooth muscle layer re-modeling due to altered TRPC6 elicited Ca2+ influx, miR-135a/b-5p abolishes this change both in vitro and in vivo.