Puerarin induces mouse mesenteric vasodilation and ameliorates hypertension involving endothelial TRPV4 channels

Food Funct. 2020 Nov 18;11(11):10137-10148. doi: 10.1039/d0fo02356f.

Abstract

Puerarin (Pue) is an isoflavone derived from the root of Pueraria lobata, which has been widely used as food and a herb for treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), a Ca2+-permeable channel with multiple modes of activation, plays an important role in vascular endothelial function and vasodilation. However, no reports have shown the effects of Pue on TRPV4 channels and mouse small mesenteric arteries. In the present study, we performed a molecular docking assay by using Discovery Studio 3.5 software to predict the binding of Pue to TRPV4 protein. The activation of TRPV4 by Pue was determined by intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), live-cell fluorescent Ca2+ imaging and patch clamp assays. Molecular docking results indicated a high possibility of Pue-TPRV4 binding. [Ca2+]i and Ca2+ imaging assays showed that Pue activated TRPV4 channels and increased [Ca2+]i in TRPV4-overexpressing HEK293 (TRPV4-HEK293) cells and primary mouse mesenteric artery endothelial cells (MAECs). Patch clamp assay demonstrated that Pue stimulated the TRPV4-mediated cation currents. Additionally, Pue relaxed mouse mesenteric arteries involving the TRPV4-small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel (SKCa)/intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel (IKCa) pathway, and reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) in high-salt-induced hypertensive mice. Our study found for the first time that Pue acts as a TRPV4 agonist, induces endothelium-dependent vasodilation in mouse mesenteric arteries, and attenuates blood pressure in high-salt-induced hypertensive mice, highlighting the beneficial effect of Pue in treating endothelial dysfunction-related cardiovascular diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium Signaling / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension / genetics
  • Hypertension / metabolism
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Isoflavones / administration & dosage*
  • Isoflavones / chemistry
  • Male
  • Mesenteric Arteries / drug effects*
  • Mesenteric Arteries / metabolism
  • Mesenteric Arteries / physiopathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • TRPV Cation Channels / chemistry
  • TRPV Cation Channels / genetics
  • TRPV Cation Channels / metabolism*
  • Vasodilation / drug effects

Substances

  • Isoflavones
  • TRPV Cation Channels
  • Trpv4 protein, mouse
  • Calcium
  • puerarin