Transient Receptor Potential Channel C1 Deficiency Protects The Murine Heart From Pressure Overload

Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels are non-selective cation channels that are activated in response to G-protein coupled receptor activation, depletion of internal stores and mechanical stretch. Recent reports suggest that cardiac TRPC channels mediate calcineurin dependent cardiac hypertrophy, yet few details exist as to the mechanism for activation of these channels. Here, we provide evidence that TRPC1 channels are the dominant TRPC channel in mouse cardiomyocytes and cardiac TRPC1 protein expression is augmented by seven fold following thoracic aortic banding (TAC). In addition, we provide the first loss of function studies to show that mice lacking TRPC1 channels developed significantly less cardiac hypertrophy following pressure overload induced by thoracic aortic banding suggesting that TRPC1 may confer deleterious calcium entry. Whole cell voltage clamp studies of isolated adult cardiomyocytes reveal a non-selective cation current that is induced by pressure overload that is absent in TRPC1−/− cardiomyocytes and in which TRP blockers such as gadolinium, 2-amino biphenyl boric acid and SKF96365 inhibit the TAC induced current. Finally, neonatal cardiomyocytes lacking functional TRPC1 display reduced TRPC current in response to cell stretch or angiotensin-II; the functional consequence of which includes reduced calcium oscillation frequency and reduced BNP expression. These results provide the first loss of function evidence for TRPC1 channels in cardiac hypertrophy and implicate TRPC1 as a stretch activated channel.