cannabidiol and resiniferatoxin

Heat-sensitive transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels are expressed in various epithelial tissues regulating, among else, barrier functions. Their expression is well established in the distal nephron; however, we have no data about their presence in podocytes. As podocytes are indispensable in the formation of the glomerular filtration barrier, we investigated the presence and function of Ca. Expression of TRPV1-4 channels was investigated at protein (immunocytochemistry, Western blot) and mRNA (Q-PCR) level in a conditionally immortalized human podocyte cell line. Channel function was assessed by measuring intracellular Ca. Thermosensitive TRP channels were expressed in podocytes. The TRPV1-specific agonists capsaicin and resiniferatoxin did not affect the intracellular Ca. Our results indicate the functional presence of TRPV4 and other thermosensitive TRPV channels in human podocytes and raise the possibility of their involvement in the regulation of glomerular filtration barrier.

Topics: Calcium; Calcium Signaling; Cannabidiol; Capsaicin; Cell Line; Diterpenes; Glomerular Filtration Barrier; Humans; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Podocytes; RNA, Messenger; TRPV Cation Channels