Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Hydrocephalus is a debilitating disease characterized by an increase in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain, leading to increases in pressure that can ultimately result in death. Current treatments for hydrocephalus include only invasive brain surgery. Therefore, the need for a pharmaceutical therapy is great. In order to develop a suitable treatment, we first must be able to study the disease and the mechanisms by which it develops. By characterizing appropriate in vivo and in vitro models, we are better able to study this disease. In this thesis, the Wpk rat model and the PCP-R cell line are described as such appropriate models. In addition to suitable models, we also require a target for drug treatment. Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is a non-selective cation ion channel present in the main CSF-producing organ in the brain, the choroid plexus (CP). Preliminary data suggest this channel plays a role in the development of hydrocephalus. In the following work, some of the mechanisms by which TRPV4 functions in the brain are also described, including through calcium-sensitive potassium channels and inflammation. From this research, we are able to achieve a better understanding of the function of TRPV4 and how it can affect the development and progression of hydrocephalus.

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<p>  </p> <p>Pediatric hydrocephalus is a complex neurological condition associated with a pathological accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), typically within the brain ventricular system. Pediatric hydrocephalus can be primary (due to genetic abnormalities or idiopathic causes), or secondary to injuries such as hemorrhage, trauma, or infection. The current permanent treatment paradigms for pediatric hydrocephalus are exclusively surgical and include the diversion of CSF via shunt or ventriculostomy. These surgical interventions are wrought with failures, burdening both the United States healthcare system and patients with repeat neurosurgical procedures. Thus, the development of nonsurgical interventions to treat hydrocephalus represents a clinically unmet need. To study hydrocephalus, we use a genetic rat model of primary neonatal hydrocephalus, the <em>Tmem67</em>P394L mutant. In several proof-of-concept studies, we identify antagonism of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channel and associated upstream regulatory kinase, serum-and-glucocorticoid-induced kinase 1 (SGK1) as therapeutics for the treatment of hydrocephalus. Using <em>in vitro</em> models of the choroid plexus epithelium, the tissue which produces CSF, we show compelling proof-of-mechanism for TRPV4 antagonism and SGK1 inhibition at preventing CSF production. Therefore, the studies in this dissertation provide substantive evidence on the role of TRPV4 in the choroid plexus in health and disease. </p>

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En este trabajo de tesis doctoral se caracteriza funcional y molecularmente el canal TRPV4 en varios modelos de células epiteliales respiratorias mostrando por primera vez la participación de este canal en la función osmoreguladora a nivel celular así como la identificación de nuevas variantes del canal. Se demuestra que la entrada de Ca2+ en respuesta a un hinchamiento hipotónico se produce a través del canal TRPV4 y es necesaria para una eficiente recuperación del volumen o RVD. Por su parte, las células epiteliales respiratorias con fenotipo de fibrosis quística no son capaces de reducir su volumen en un medio hipotónico a causa de una regulación defectuosa del canal, indicando, al mismo tiempo, que la regulación del TRPV4 por el estímulo hipotónico es dependiente de la CFTR.La caracterización de las variantes del canal TRPV4 demuestra que los dominios de ANK son determinantes moleculares claves en el proceso de oligomerización del canal. Al mismo tiempo este trabajo describe nuevos aspectos relacionados con la biogénesis del TRPV4 hasta ahora desconocidos: la oligomerización del canal tiene lugar en el RE, orgánulo donde es N-glicosilado de forma simple antes de ser transportado hacia el Golgi donde sus N-glicanos son madurados. / This thesis characterizes molecularly and funcionally the TRPV4 channel in various models of airway epithelial cells showing, for the first time, the involvement of this channel in an osmoregulatory cellular function as well as the isolation of new splice variants of this channel. It is demonstrated that the TRPV4 channel is the molecular Ca2+ pathway activated by hypotonic estimulus needed to trigger the RVD response. Furthermore, the cystic fibrosis airway epithelial cells showed an impaired RVD due to the misregulation of the TRPV4 channel, indicating that the regulation by the hypotonic stimulus is CFTR-dependent.The characterization of the new variants demonstrated that the ANK domains are key structural determinants in the oligomerization process of the TRPV4. This work also describes new aspects related to the biogenesis of this channel: oligomerization is achieved in the ER, where the TRPV4 is N-glycosilated and then transported to the Golgi where the glycans are matured.

TRPV4 is a non-selective cation channel with a wide expression and multiple cellular and systemic functions. Described initially as an osmosensor, it can also be activated by temperature and cell swelling. Due to this variety of activating stimuli it may have a promiscuous gating behavior which is mostly unknown. This Thesis research aims to get in-depth in the understanding of the molecular determinants of TRPV4 regulation. I provide evidences that the inositol trisphosphate receptor and its modulatory function on TRPV4 relies on its binding to the C-terminal tail of TRPV4. I discuss the role of the channels’ N-terminal tail in osmotransduction and show how a mutation that results in a channel with an impaired response to osmotic environments is associated to a pathophysiological condition such as hyponatremia. I also highlight the importance of this N-terminal tail and the binding to the regulatory protein PACSIN3 for the global conformation of the channel. / El TRPV4 és un canal catiònic no selectiu d’expressió generalitzada i funcions diverses. Tot i que inicialment es va descriure com un osmosensor sistèmic, avui sabem que també es pot activar per temperatura o per augments del volum cel•lular. Degut a la diversitat d’estímuls, el canal presenta diferents vies d’activació la major part de les quals són desconegudes. Aquesta Tesi pretén estudiar en detall els mecanismes moleculars que regulen l’activitat del canal. Aportem evidències del lloc d’unió a la cua C-terminal del receptor d’inositol trifosfat així com la seva modulació sobre l’activitat del TRPV4. També discutim el rol de la cua N-terminal en la osmotransducció i presentem una mutació, generadora d’un canal amb una resposta anòmala a estímuls hipotònics, que està associada a una condició fisiopatològica com la hiponatremia. També destaquem la importància de la cua N-terminal i de la unió de la proteïna reguladora PACSIN3 en la conformació global del canal.

<div>Hydrocephalus is a debilitating disease characterized by an increase in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain, leading to increases in pressure that can ultimately result in death. Current treatments for hydrocephalus include only invasive brain surgery. Therefore, the need for a pharmaceutical therapy is great. In order to develop a suitable treatment, we first must be able to study the disease and the mechanisms by which it develops. By characterizing appropriate in vivo and in vitro models, we are better able to study this disease. In this thesis, the Wpk rat model and the PCP-R cell line are described as such appropriate models. In addition to suitable models, we also require a target for drug treatment. Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is a non-selective cation ion channel present in the main CSF-producing organ in the brain, the choroid plexus (CP). Preliminary data suggest this channel plays a role in the development of hydrocephalus. In the following work, some of the mechanisms by which TRPV4 functions in the brain are also described, including through calcium-sensitive potassium channels and inflammation. From this research, we are able to achieve a better understanding of the function of TRPV4 and how it can affect the development and progression of hydrocephalus.</div>