Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key signaling molecules that play an important role in the progression of inflammatory disorders. An enhanced ROS generation by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) at the site of inflammation causes endothelial dysfunction and tissue injury. The vascular endothelium plays an important role in passage of macromolecules and inflammatory cells from the blood to tissue. Under the inflammatory conditions, oxidative stress produced by PMNs leads to the opening of inter-endothelial junctions and promotes the migration of inflammatory cells across the endothelial barrier. The migrated inflammatory cells not only help in the clearance of pathogens and foreign particles but also lead to tissue injury. The current review compiles the past and current research in the area of inflammation with particular emphasis on oxidative stress-mediated signaling mechanisms that are involved in inflammation and tissue injury.

Reactive Oxygen Species in Inflammation and Tissue Injury

Calcium is an important second messenger involved in intra- and extracellular signaling cascades and plays an essential role in cell life and death decisions. The Ca(2+) signaling network works in many different ways to regulate cellular processes that function over a wide dynamic range due to the action of buffers, pumps and exchangers on the plasma membrane as well as in internal stores. Calcium signaling pathways interact with other cellular signaling systems such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although initially considered to be potentially detrimental byproducts of aerobic metabolism, it is now clear that ROS generated in sub-toxic levels by different intracellular systems act as signaling molecules involved in various cellular processes including growth and cell death. Increasing evidence suggests a mutual interplay between calcium and ROS signaling systems which seems to have important implications for fine tuning cellular signaling networks. However, dysfunction in either of the systems might affect the other system thus potentiating harmful effects which might contribute to the pathogenesis of various disorders.

Calcium and ROS: A mutual interplay.

TRP channels: an overview.

The syncytium of cardiomyocytes in the heart is tethered within a matrix composed principally of type I fibrillar collagen The matrix has diverse mechanical functions that ensure the optimal contractile efficiency of this muscular pump In the diseased heart, cardiomyocytes are lost to necrotic cell death, and phenotypically transformed fibroblast-like cells-termed 'myofibroblasts'-are activated to initiate a 'reparative' fibrosis The structural integrity of the myocardium is preserved by this scar tissue, although at the expense of its remodelled architecture, which has increased tissue stiffness and propensity to arrhythmias A persisting population of activated myofibroblasts turns this fibrous tissue into a living 'secretome' that generates angiotensin II and its type 1 receptor, and fibrogenic growth factors (such as transforming growth factor-β), all of which collectively act as a signal-transducer-effector signalling pathway to type I collagen synthesis and, therefore, fibrosis Persistent myofibroblasts, and the resultant fibrous tissue they produce, cause progressive adverse myocardial remodelling, a pathological hallmark of the failing heart irrespective of its etiologic origin Herein, we review relevant cellular, subcellular, and molecular mechanisms integral to cardiac fibrosis and consequent remodelling of atria and ventricles with a heterogeneity in cardiomyocyte size Signalling pathways that antagonize collagen fibrillogenesis provide novel strategies for cardioprotection

Myofibroblast-mediated mechanisms of pathological remodelling of the heart

Fibroblasts in myocardial infarction: a role in inflammation and repair

TRPC3 and TRPC4 Associate to Form a Redox-sensitive Cation Channel EVIDENCE FOR EXPRESSION OF NATIVE TRPC3-TRPC4 HETEROMERIC CHANNELS IN ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

Ca2+ signaling by TRPC3 involves Na+ entry and local coupling to the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger

The blocking efficacy of 4,9-anhydro-TTX (4,9-ah-TTX) and TTX on several isoforms of voltage-dependent sodium channels, expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, was tested (Nav1.2, Nav1.3, Nav1.4, Nav1...

The TTX metabolite 4,9-anhydro-TTX is a highly specific blocker of the Nav1.6 voltage-dependent sodium channel

Objective: Members of the classical transient receptor potential protein (TRPC) family are considered as key components of phospholipase C (PLC)-dependent Ca 2+ signaling. Previous results obtained in the HEK 293 expression system suggested a physical and functional coupling of TRPC3 to the cardiac-type Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger, NCX1 (sodium calcium exchanger 1). This study was designed to test for expression of TRPC3 (transient receptor potential channel 3) and for the existence of a native TRPC3/NCX1 signaling complex in rat cardiac myocytes. Methods: Protein expression and cellular distribution were determined by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. Protein–protein interactions were investigated by reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation and glutathione S-transferase (GST)-pulldown experiments. Recruitment of protein complexes into the plasma membrane was assayed by surface biotinylation. The functional role of TRPC3 was investigated by fluorimetric recording of angiotensin II-induced calcium signals employing a dominant negative knockdown strategy. Results: TRPC3 immunoreactivity was observed in surface plasma membrane regions and in an intracellular membrane system. Coimmunolabeling of TRPC3 and NCX1 indicated significant co-localization of the two proteins. Both co-immunoprecipitation and GSTpulldown experiments demonstrated association of TRPC3 with NCX1. PLC stimulation was found to trigger NCX-mediated Ca 2+ entry, which was dependent on TRPC3-mediated Na + loading of myocytes. This NCX-mediated Ca 2+ signaling was significantly suppressed by expression of a dominant negative fragment of TRPC3. PLC stimulation was associated with increased membrane presentation of both TRPC3 and NCX1. Conclusion: These results suggest a PLC-dependent recruitment of a TRPC3-NCX1 complex into the plasma membrane as a pivotal mechanism for the control of cardiac Ca 2+ homeostasis.

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Phospholipase C-dependent control of cardiac calcium homeostasis involves a TRPC3-NCX1 signaling complex

Increasing evidence suggests a pivotal role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in human pathophysiology. A typical target of ROS/RNS signalling is Ca2+ channels which mediate both long-term as well as acute cellular responses to oxidative stress. We have previously reported that cation channels related to the Drosophila transient receptor potential gene product (TRPC proteins) are likely to serve as redox sensors in the vascular endothelium, and demonstrated that TRPC3 expression is a determinant of the nitric oxide sensitivity of store-operated Ca2+ signalling. Experiments with TRPC species overexpressed in HEK293 cells confirmed that TRPC3 and TRPC4 are able to form redox sensitive cation channels. A key mechanism involved in redox activation of TRPC3 appears to be ROS-induced promotion of protein tyrosine phosphorylation and stimulation of phospholipase C activity. In addition, oxidative stress-induced disruption of caveolin 1-rich lipid raft domains, which interfere with functional TRPC channels, is likely to contribute to redox modulation of TRP proteins and to oxidative stress-induced changes in cellular Ca2+ signalling. Taken together, our data suggest TRPC species serve as a link between cellular redox state and Ca2+ homeostasis. Thus, modulation of these cellular redox sensors may offer unique opportunities for therapeutic interventions.

Christian Rosker

Papers

TRPC3 and TRPC4 Associate to Form a Redox-sensitive Cation Channel EVIDENCE FOR EXPRESSION OF NATIVE TRPC3-TRPC4 HETEROMERIC CHANNELS IN ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

Ca2+ signaling by TRPC3 involves Na+ entry and local coupling to the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger

The TTX metabolite 4,9-anhydro-TTX is a highly specific blocker of the Nav1.6 voltage-dependent sodium channel

Phospholipase C-dependent control of cardiac calcium homeostasis involves a TRPC3-NCX1 signaling complex

Role of TRP channels in oxidative stress.