# Transient Receptor Potential Channel Canonical Type 3 Deficiency Antagonizes Myofibroblast Transdifferentiation In Vivo

Authors: Weijie Xia; Qianran Wang; Yuangang Lu; Yingru Hu; Xingcun Zhang; Junbo Zhang; Dongfang Liu; Jinlin Song; Zhiming Zhu; Daoyan Liu; Hengshu Zhang
Journal: BioMed Research International
 (2020)

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## Abstract

Objective. Myofibroblast transformation has been shown to be associated with the reactive oxygen species- (ROS-) producing enzyme NADPH oxidase (Nox4). Inhibition of transient receptor potential channel canonical type 3 (TRPC3) attenuates mitochondrial calcium handling and ROS production in the vasculature of hypertensive rats. However, it remains elusive whether TRPC3 regulates mitochondrial calcium and ROS production and participates in myofibroblast transdifferentiation during wound healing. Methods and Results. In this study, we demonstrated that activation of TRPC3 by transforming growth factor β (TGFβ1) elevated myofibroblast transdifferentiation by upregulating the myofibroblast marker alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA). Inhibition of TRPC3 with its specific inhibitor, Pyr3, significantly decreased TGFβ1-induced αSMA expression, as demonstrated by immunofluorescence. Real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry revealed higher TRPC3 and TGFβ1 mRNA expression levels in fibroblasts from hypertrophic scar (HTS) tissue than in those from normal skin tissue. TGFβ1 treatment increased TRPC3-mediated mitochondrial calcium uptake and ROS production but decreased ATP content in human fibroblasts, whereas inhibition of TRPC3 significantly reversed these effects. The beneficial effects were associated with improvements in mitochondrial respiratory function mediated by recovery of the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). In vivo, Trpc3-/- mice exhibited significantly attenuated myofibroblast transdifferentiation, as demonstrated by decreased αSMA, TGFβ1, fibronectin, and collagen-1 (Col1a1) protein expression in wound granulation tissues. Furthermore, TGFβ1-induced store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) was significantly decreased in fibroblasts from Trpc3-/- mice compared with those from Trpc3+/+ mice. In addition, Trpc3-/- mice exhibited significantly decreased Nox4 and phosphorylated Smad2/3 protein expression in wound granulation tissues. Conclusions. Our data indicate that TGFβ1-mediated activation of TRPC3 enhances mitochondrial calcium and ROS production, which promotes myofibroblast transdifferentiation and HTS formation. Inhibition of the TRPC3-mediated Nox4/pSmad2/3 pathway may be a useful strategy to limit HTS formation after injury.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Hypertrophic scars (HTSs) often lead to dysfunction, damaged appearance, and psychological discomfort, and the current clinical treatments are not optimal [1]. Myofibroblasts are overabundant in HTS tissue after burn injury [2]. Myofibroblast proliferation is initiated by the formation of granulation tissue and the recruitment of activating myofibroblasts, which play central roles in extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, reepithelialization, and eventual wound closure. The major components of HTS tissue are collagen-1 (Col1a1) and fibronectin, which mediate ECM remodelling, and α-smooth muscle actin- (αSMA) expressing myofibroblasts, which provide contractile strength [3]. Myofibroblast transdifferentiation associated with HTS formation plays a central role during wound healing. However, the molecular mechanisms remain unclear.Transforming growth factorβ (TGFβ) is a cytokine that may promote myofibroblast transdifferentiation during acute tissue injury. TGFβ plays important roles in regulating proliferation and differentiation as well as in tissue fibrosis [4, 5]. TGFβ induces de novo synthesis of αSMA fibres that enhance contractility and increases the protein expression of the ECM proteins collagen and fibronectin after injury. Mammals express the TGFβ isoforms TGFβ1-TGFβ3. TGFβ1 regulates the proliferation of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts, including in chronic ulcers [6]. Notably, Smad proteins are among the most important intracellular signal transduction proteins downstream of the TGFβ superfamily [7]. TGFβ1 acts through a heterodimeric receptor at the plasma membrane that phosphorylates the transcription factors Smad2 and Smad3 [8]. Disruption of the TGFβ1/Smad3 signalling pathway due to loss of Smad3 confers resistance to tissue fibrosis in the skin, kidneys, lungs, and liver [9, 10].Mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake is critical for the regulation of numerous cellular processes and of energy metabolism, but Ca2+ overload in the mitochondrial matrix impairs mitochondrial function and leads to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation [11]. Mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and several electron transport complexes are associated with changes in mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis [12]. NADPH oxidase (Nox) 4 utilizes electrons from NADPH to generate superoxides, and suppression of Nox4 has been found to decrease myofibroblast formation and fibrosis in several tissue injury models [13]. Recently, TGFβ-induced myofibroblast transformation has been shown to be associated with the ROS-producing enzyme Nox4 [1]. However, the mechanisms of mitochondrial Ca2+ overload through ROS and the role of the Nox4/Smad3 signalling pathway in regulating myofibroblast transformation remain unknown.Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels play important regulatory roles in cellular Ca2+ homeostasis, growth, migration, and inflammatory mechanisms [14, 15]. TRP channels are involved in dermatological disorders [16], but the function of TRP channels in myofibroblast transdifferentiation is poorly understood. TRPC6 is known to activate the Ca2+-responsive protein phosphatase calcineurin to induce myofibroblast transdifferentiation and dermal wound healing [17], and TRPA1 promotes cardiac myofibroblast transdifferentiation after myocardial infarction injury [18]. Our previous studies have also revealed that enhancement of TRPC3 is associated with increased migration of monocytes [14] and with elevated mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and ROS generation in the vasculature in hypertension [19]. However, little is known about whether TGFβ1 can regulate mitochondrial Ca2+ and ROS production in the mitochondrial respiratory chain and elevate myofibroblast transdifferentiation by targeting TRPC3. Therefore, we hypothesized that TGFβ1 enhances TRPC3-mediated mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and ROS production, ultimately promoting myofibroblast transdifferentiation during wound healing and increasing HTS formation.


## 2. Materials and Methods

### 2.1. Tissue Samples and Cell Culture

Human HTS tissues obtained through surgical excision (n=12, taken from eight women and four men with an age range of 23-55 years) were used for the experiments in this study. Nine HTS tissue samples from the face, 3 HTS tissue samples from the neck area, and some samples of corresponding adjacent normal skin tissue (n=6) from the face (n=3) and neck area (n=3) were obtained during scar surgical excision at the Department of Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery, Daping Hospital, Army Military Medical University. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Daping Hospital, Army Military Medical University. All participants gave written informed consent.Primary human fibroblasts were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) containing 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS) and antibiotics until they became confluent. Dermal fibroblasts fromTrpc3+/+ and Trpc3-/- were established as described previously [17]. The cells were cultured in DMEM (Gibco, China) supplemented with 10% FBS (HyClone, USA) containing 1% penicillin-streptomycin and were incubated in a 5% CO2 atmosphere at 37°C.


### 2.2. Animal Care and Open Wound Creation

Trpc3-/- mice and their Trpc3+/+ littermates were obtained as gifts from Dr. Birnbaumer (Laboratory of Neurobiology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Research Triangle Park, USA). The homozygotes, heterozygotes, and WT littermates were identified according to previously described methods [19]. Eight-week-old male Trpc3-/- mice (n=6) and Trpc3+/+ mice (n=6) were maintained at a controlled temperature (21°C to 23°C) under a 12/12-hour light-dark cycle and with free access to food and water. All animal experimental procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Research Advisory Committee of the Army Military Medical University [15].Open wounds were created on the backs of the mice (Trpc3-/- mice, n=6; Trpc3+/+ mice, n=6). Each mouse was anaesthetized with pentobarbital (Matrx VIP 3000, Isoflurane Vaporizer, USA), and all limbs were extended evenly until the back skin became relaxed and symmetric. The back was sterilized using iodine and 70% EtOH, and an 8 mm circular excision line was drawn. The skin, including the panniculus carnosus, was carefully excised just above the myofascial layer with scissors. The wounds were washed using sterile 0.9% NaCl saline and sterile gauze dressings. The wound size was measured at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 days after the wounds were created. The wound dressings were carefully removed with 0.9% NaCl saline, and care was taken not to change the wound size or shape. A standard ruler was used as a reference, and photographs of the wounds were taken with a digital camera (D80, Nikon, Tokyo, Japan). The wound areas were calculated using ImageJ software (public software, NIH).


### 2.3. Intracellular and Mitochondrial Ca2+ Measurement

The concentrations of cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]cyt) and mitochondrial Ca2+ ([Ca2+]mito) were measured using Fura-2AM and Rhod-2AM (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA) as previously described [20]. Briefly, for [Ca2+]cyt, fluorescence was measured at baseline and after treatment at an emission wavelength of 510 nm and excitation wavelengths of 340 and 380 nm. The data are presented as the fluorescence ratio of the excitation at 340 and 380 nm to the emission at 510 nm. For [Ca2+]mito, fluorescence was measured at an emission wavelength of 581 nm and an excitation wavelength of 552 nm at baseline and after treatment. The data are presented as F/F0, where F is the emission at 581 nm induced by excitation at 552 nm and F0 is the value during the pretreatment period in each experiment.


### 2.4. Measurement of Mitochondrial Respiratory Function

Mitochondrial respiratory function was determined in a 2-channel titration injection respirometer with a coupled fluorospectrometer (Oxygraph-2k; Oroboros Instruments, Innsbruck, Austria). Human-cultured fibroblasts were pretreated with TGFβ1 (10 ng/mL) for the indicated time or kept as controls. The cells were resuspended in mitochondrial respiration medium (MiR05) for high-resolution respirometry. DatLab software 6.1 (Oroboros Instruments, Innsbruck, Austria) was used [19].


### 2.5. Measurement of ROS Levels

ROS levels were measured with a dihydroethidium (DHE) fluorescent probe for cytosolic ROS detection or with MitoSOX Red (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA) for mitochondrial ROS detection using a Fluoroskan Ascent Fluorometer (Thermo Fisher, Helsinki, Finland) [20].


### 2.6. Immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescence

Tissue sections were blocked and incubated with an anti-TRPC3 antibody (1 : 100, Alomone Labs, Jerusalem, Israel) and an anti-TGFβ1 antibody (1 : 100, Abcam, Cambridge, UK) for 2 h at room temperature. The sections were incubated with a biotinylated secondary antibody for 30 minutes and developed with ABC complex (VECTASTAIN ABC System, Vector Labs, CA, USA). Immunofluorescence was performed with an anti-αSMA antibody (1 : 100, Abcam, Cambridge, UK) followed by an Alexa Fluor 488-labelled secondary antibody (Abcam, Cambridge, UK). Nuclei were identified by DAPI staining. To quantify fluorescence, the glass slides were examined under an inverted fluorescence microscope (Nikon TE2000-U; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). The percentages of myofibroblast cells (αSMA+, green) among total cells were quantified using NIS-Elements 3.0 software (Nikon Instruments).


### 2.7. Reagents and Western Blot Analysis

Human TGFβ1 (Solarbio, No. P00121) was suspended as recommended by the manufacturer, at 10 μg/mL stock concentration. Aliquots were kept frozen at −20°C until used. TRPC3 specific inhibitor Pyr3 was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO).Western blot assays were conducted as previously described [19, 20]. The primary antibodies included anti-TRPC3 from Alomone Labs (Jerusalem, Israel); anti-TGFβ1 and anti-αSMA from Abcam (Cambridge, UK); anti-fibronectin, anti-NOX4, anti-phosphorylated Smad2/3 (pSmad2/3), anti-Smad2/3, and anti-GAPDH from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Dallas, TX); anti-Col1a1 from Cell Signaling Technology; and antiphosphorylated pyruvate dehydrogenase E1a subunit (PDHE1a) (p-PDHE1α) from Merck-Millipore (Darmstadt, Germany).


### 2.8. Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)

Total RNA was extracted from mononuclear cells using TRIzol reagent (Invitrogen), and first-strand cDNA was synthesized with Evoscript Universal cDNA Master. One microlitre of 1 : 5-diluted first-strand cDNA was added to each 20μL PCR system and amplified with a FastStart Essential DNA Green Master RT-PCR kit. The amplification process was divided into three steps according to the manufacturer-recommended settings of the LightCycler 96 (Roche). The fluorescence reaction curves were analysed with LightCycler 96 software (version 1.1). GAPDH was used as the internal reference gene in the experiment. The primer sequences for the target gene TRPC3 (accession number NM_003305) were CAAGAATGACTATCGGAAGC (forward) and GCCACAAACTTTTTGACTTC (reverse), and those for GAPDH (accession number NM_002046) were AACTGCTTAGCACCCCTGGC (forward) and ATGACCTTGCCCACAGCCTT (reverse). The expected amplicon sizes were 203 bp (TRPC3) and 202 bp (GAPDH).


### 2.9. Statistical Analysis

The data are presented as themean±SEM. Unpaired Student’s t-test was used to analyse differences between two groups. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software version 22.0 (IBM, Armonk, USA) and GraphPad Prism software version 6.0 (GraphPad Software, CA). p values less than 0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance.


## 2.1. Tissue Samples and Cell Culture

Human HTS tissues obtained through surgical excision (n=12, taken from eight women and four men with an age range of 23-55 years) were used for the experiments in this study. Nine HTS tissue samples from the face, 3 HTS tissue samples from the neck area, and some samples of corresponding adjacent normal skin tissue (n=6) from the face (n=3) and neck area (n=3) were obtained during scar surgical excision at the Department of Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery, Daping Hospital, Army Military Medical University. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Daping Hospital, Army Military Medical University. All participants gave written informed consent.Primary human fibroblasts were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) containing 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS) and antibiotics until they became confluent. Dermal fibroblasts fromTrpc3+/+ and Trpc3-/- were established as described previously [17]. The cells were cultured in DMEM (Gibco, China) supplemented with 10% FBS (HyClone, USA) containing 1% penicillin-streptomycin and were incubated in a 5% CO2 atmosphere at 37°C.


## 2.2. Animal Care and Open Wound Creation

Trpc3-/- mice and their Trpc3+/+ littermates were obtained as gifts from Dr. Birnbaumer (Laboratory of Neurobiology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Research Triangle Park, USA). The homozygotes, heterozygotes, and WT littermates were identified according to previously described methods [19]. Eight-week-old male Trpc3-/- mice (n=6) and Trpc3+/+ mice (n=6) were maintained at a controlled temperature (21°C to 23°C) under a 12/12-hour light-dark cycle and with free access to food and water. All animal experimental procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Research Advisory Committee of the Army Military Medical University [15].Open wounds were created on the backs of the mice (Trpc3-/- mice, n=6; Trpc3+/+ mice, n=6). Each mouse was anaesthetized with pentobarbital (Matrx VIP 3000, Isoflurane Vaporizer, USA), and all limbs were extended evenly until the back skin became relaxed and symmetric. The back was sterilized using iodine and 70% EtOH, and an 8 mm circular excision line was drawn. The skin, including the panniculus carnosus, was carefully excised just above the myofascial layer with scissors. The wounds were washed using sterile 0.9% NaCl saline and sterile gauze dressings. The wound size was measured at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 days after the wounds were created. The wound dressings were carefully removed with 0.9% NaCl saline, and care was taken not to change the wound size or shape. A standard ruler was used as a reference, and photographs of the wounds were taken with a digital camera (D80, Nikon, Tokyo, Japan). The wound areas were calculated using ImageJ software (public software, NIH).


## 2.3. Intracellular and Mitochondrial Ca2+ Measurement

The concentrations of cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]cyt) and mitochondrial Ca2+ ([Ca2+]mito) were measured using Fura-2AM and Rhod-2AM (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA) as previously described [20]. Briefly, for [Ca2+]cyt, fluorescence was measured at baseline and after treatment at an emission wavelength of 510 nm and excitation wavelengths of 340 and 380 nm. The data are presented as the fluorescence ratio of the excitation at 340 and 380 nm to the emission at 510 nm. For [Ca2+]mito, fluorescence was measured at an emission wavelength of 581 nm and an excitation wavelength of 552 nm at baseline and after treatment. The data are presented as F/F0, where F is the emission at 581 nm induced by excitation at 552 nm and F0 is the value during the pretreatment period in each experiment.


## 2.4. Measurement of Mitochondrial Respiratory Function

Mitochondrial respiratory function was determined in a 2-channel titration injection respirometer with a coupled fluorospectrometer (Oxygraph-2k; Oroboros Instruments, Innsbruck, Austria). Human-cultured fibroblasts were pretreated with TGFβ1 (10 ng/mL) for the indicated time or kept as controls. The cells were resuspended in mitochondrial respiration medium (MiR05) for high-resolution respirometry. DatLab software 6.1 (Oroboros Instruments, Innsbruck, Austria) was used [19].


## 2.5. Measurement of ROS Levels

ROS levels were measured with a dihydroethidium (DHE) fluorescent probe for cytosolic ROS detection or with MitoSOX Red (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA) for mitochondrial ROS detection using a Fluoroskan Ascent Fluorometer (Thermo Fisher, Helsinki, Finland) [20].


## 2.6. Immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescence

Tissue sections were blocked and incubated with an anti-TRPC3 antibody (1 : 100, Alomone Labs, Jerusalem, Israel) and an anti-TGFβ1 antibody (1 : 100, Abcam, Cambridge, UK) for 2 h at room temperature. The sections were incubated with a biotinylated secondary antibody for 30 minutes and developed with ABC complex (VECTASTAIN ABC System, Vector Labs, CA, USA). Immunofluorescence was performed with an anti-αSMA antibody (1 : 100, Abcam, Cambridge, UK) followed by an Alexa Fluor 488-labelled secondary antibody (Abcam, Cambridge, UK). Nuclei were identified by DAPI staining. To quantify fluorescence, the glass slides were examined under an inverted fluorescence microscope (Nikon TE2000-U; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). The percentages of myofibroblast cells (αSMA+, green) among total cells were quantified using NIS-Elements 3.0 software (Nikon Instruments).


## 2.7. Reagents and Western Blot Analysis

Human TGFβ1 (Solarbio, No. P00121) was suspended as recommended by the manufacturer, at 10 μg/mL stock concentration. Aliquots were kept frozen at −20°C until used. TRPC3 specific inhibitor Pyr3 was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO).Western blot assays were conducted as previously described [19, 20]. The primary antibodies included anti-TRPC3 from Alomone Labs (Jerusalem, Israel); anti-TGFβ1 and anti-αSMA from Abcam (Cambridge, UK); anti-fibronectin, anti-NOX4, anti-phosphorylated Smad2/3 (pSmad2/3), anti-Smad2/3, and anti-GAPDH from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Dallas, TX); anti-Col1a1 from Cell Signaling Technology; and antiphosphorylated pyruvate dehydrogenase E1a subunit (PDHE1a) (p-PDHE1α) from Merck-Millipore (Darmstadt, Germany).


## 2.8. Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)

Total RNA was extracted from mononuclear cells using TRIzol reagent (Invitrogen), and first-strand cDNA was synthesized with Evoscript Universal cDNA Master. One microlitre of 1 : 5-diluted first-strand cDNA was added to each 20μL PCR system and amplified with a FastStart Essential DNA Green Master RT-PCR kit. The amplification process was divided into three steps according to the manufacturer-recommended settings of the LightCycler 96 (Roche). The fluorescence reaction curves were analysed with LightCycler 96 software (version 1.1). GAPDH was used as the internal reference gene in the experiment. The primer sequences for the target gene TRPC3 (accession number NM_003305) were CAAGAATGACTATCGGAAGC (forward) and GCCACAAACTTTTTGACTTC (reverse), and those for GAPDH (accession number NM_002046) were AACTGCTTAGCACCCCTGGC (forward) and ATGACCTTGCCCACAGCCTT (reverse). The expected amplicon sizes were 203 bp (TRPC3) and 202 bp (GAPDH).


## 2.9. Statistical Analysis

The data are presented as themean±SEM. Unpaired Student’s t-test was used to analyse differences between two groups. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software version 22.0 (IBM, Armonk, USA) and GraphPad Prism software version 6.0 (GraphPad Software, CA). p values less than 0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance.


## 3. Results

### 3.1. Increased TRPC3 Promoted Fibroblast Transdifferentiation into Myofibroblasts

First, we investigated the effect of TRPC3 on myofibroblast transdifferentiation by immunofluorescence staining. TGFβ1 treatment time-dependently increased myofibroblast transdifferentiation by increasing the expression of the myofibroblast marker αSMA in cultured human fibroblasts. In contrast, treatment with the TRPC3 inhibitor Pyr3 significantly reduced αSMA expression in cultured human fibroblasts compared with that in control cells (Figures 1(a) and 1(b)). Immunohistochemical staining showed that TRPC3 and TGFβ1 more strongly expressed the epidermis and dermis in human HTS tissues than in normal skin tissues (Figure 1(c)). RT-PCR showed that TRPC3 mRNA (Figure 1(d)) and TGFβ1 mRNA levels (Figure 1(e)) were higher in human HTS tissues than in normal skin tissues. TGFβ1 treatment elevated TRPC3 and αSMA protein expression, but administration of Pyr3 significantly reduced TRPC3 and αSMA expression in cultured human fibroblasts (Figures 1(f) and 1(g)). These data indicate that TRPC3 is involved in human hypertrophic scarring and that inhibition of TRPC3 decreases TGFβ1-induced myofibroblast transdifferentiation.Figure 1
Effects of TRPC3 on myofibroblast transdifferentiation of human fibroblasts. Human fibroblasts were treated with TGFβ1 alone (10 ng/mL) or with TGFβ1 and Pyr3 (10 μmol/L) for 12 h (upper panel) or 24 h (lower panel). (a) Immunofluorescence staining and (b) myofibroblasts (αSMA+, green) and nucleic acid staining (blue). This experiment was repeated three times, and the percentage of αSMA+ myofibroblasts was quantified over the three experiments. The bars are 100 μm. ∗p<0.05, #p>0.05 vs. control (cont); n=3 independent experiments. (c) Immunohistochemical staining of TRPC3 and TGFβ1 expression in hypertrophic scar (HTS) tissues and normal skin tissues. Vascular smooth muscle cells were stained with anti-TRPC3 and anti-TGFβ1 antibodies in HTS tissue sections as internal positive controls. The scale bar represents 100 μm in the 10x images. (d, e) TRPC3 and TGFβ1 mRNA levels as assessed by RT-PCR in human HTS tissues and normal skin tissues. p<0.05, p<0.001 vs. normal skin tissues by Student’s t-test. (f, g) Western blot analysis of TRPC3 and αSMA in human fibroblasts under treatment with TGFβ1 alone (TGFβ1, 10 ng/mL) or with TGFβ1 and Pyr3 (10 μmol/L) for 24 h or under control conditions without TGFβ1 treatment. ∗p<0.05, #p>0.05 vs. control (cont).
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### 3.2. Inhibition of TRPC3 Attenuated TGFβ1-Induced Mitochondrial Ca2+ Homeostasis in Human Fibroblasts

Next, to assess the effects of the TGFβ1-stimulated increases in TRPC3, we examined the changes in cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ handling in human fibroblasts. Administration of TGFβ1 time-dependently elevated [Ca2+]cyt (Figures 2(a)–2(d)) and [Ca2+]mito (Figures 2(a)–2(h)) in human fibroblasts. In contrast, administration of the TRPC3 inhibitor Pyr3 significantly attenuated the effects of TGFβ1. These results suggest that TGFβ1-mediated enhancement of TRPC3 function contributes to regulating mitochondrial Ca2+ handling in human fibroblasts.Figure 2
Effect of TRPC3 inhibition on cytoplasmic and mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis in human fibroblasts. SOCE was measured with thapsigargin (TG), and (a–d) [Ca2+]cyt and (e–h) [Ca2+]mito were quantified in human primary-cultured fibroblasts under control conditions or under TGFβ1 (10 ng/mL) treatment for 12 h (a, b, e, f) or 24 h (c, d, g, h). TG (1 μmol/L) was added after preincubation with Pyr3 (10 μmol/L). The ATP concentration was 200 μmol/L in a 0.3 mmol/L extracellular Ca2+ solution after preincubation with Pyr3 (10 μmol/L). n=6 per group. ∗∗p<0.01, #p>0.05 vs. controls.
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### 3.3. Inhibition of TRPC3 Reduced ROS Production and Improved Mitochondrial Function in Human Fibroblasts

We then investigated the effects of TGFβ1 and Pyr3 treatment on mitochondrial ROS production and respiratory functions in human fibroblasts. Specifically, compared with the control treatment, TGFβ1 treatment significantly reduced the values of mitochondrial respiratory function parameters, such as CIOXPHOS, CI+IIOXPHOS, CIIETS, and CI+IIETS, in human fibroblasts. However, Pyr3 treatment significantly reversed the changes in these mitochondrial parameters (Figures 3(a) and 3(b)). p-PDHE1α levels were significantly increased in TGFβ1-treated human fibroblasts, but total PDHE1a levels were not altered (Figures 3(c) and 3(d)). The wound granulation tissues from Trpc3-/- mice had lower p-PDHE1α levels than those from Trpc3+/+ mice (Figures 3(e) and 3(f)). Furthermore, administration of TGFβ1 increased cellular and mitochondrial ROS and H2O2 production and reduced ATP levels in human fibroblasts compared with those in control cells, but Pyr3 treatment significantly reversed these changes (Figures 3(g)–3(j)). These results indicate that inhibition of TRPC3 reduces TGFβ1-induced ROS production and improves mitochondrial function in human fibroblasts.Figure 3
Effects of TRPC3 on ROS production and mitochondrial function in human fibroblasts. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption was measured in human fibroblasts treated with TGFβ1 (10 ng/mL) for 24 h via Oxygraph-2k high-resolution respirometry. (a) The test protocol is shown. (b) The values are expressed in pmol/s per 106 cells. Summarized data for oxygen consumption capacity. N=6, ∗p<0.05, ∗∗p<0.01, #p>0.05 vs. controls. (c, d) p-PDHE1α and total PDHE1α (t-PDHE1α) protein expression in human fibroblasts treated with TGFβ1 alone (10 ng/mL) or with TGFβ1 and Pyr3 (10 μmol/L) for 24 h. ∗∗p<0.01, #p>0.05 vs. controls. (e, f) p-PDHE1α and t-PDHE1α protein expression in dermal fibroblasts from WT or Trpc3-/- mice. ∗p<0.05 vs. WT. (g) DHE staining for cellular ROS, (h) mitochondrial ROS levels, (i) H2O2 production, and (j) ATP levels in human fibroblasts under TGFβ1 treatment (10 ng/mL) or TGFβ1 and Pyr3 treatment (10 μmol/L) for 24 h. N=6, ∗p<0.05, ∗∗p<0.01, #p>0.05 vs. controls.
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### 3.4. TRPC3 Deficiency Attenuated Myofibroblast Transdifferentiation by Inhibiting the NOX4/pSmad Pathway

We further investigated the effect of TRPC3-mediated Ca2+ signalling on myofibroblast transdifferentiation in vivo. 8 mm wounds were created in the skin on the backs of Trpc3+/+ and Trpc3-/- mice. The wound granulation tissues were harvested after 6 days and assessed by immunochemical staining with an anti-αSMA antibody. The myofibroblast marker αSMA was abundantly expressed in the wound granulation tissues from Trpc3+/+ mice compared with those from Trpc3-/- mice (Figure 4(a)). TRPC3 deficiency significantly decreased αSMA, TGFβ1, fibronectin, and Col1a1 protein expression in wound granulation tissues (Figures 4(b) and 4(c)). Furthermore, western blotting confirmed that the TRPC3 protein was expressed in dermal fibroblasts from Trpc3+/+ mice but not in those from Trpc3-/- mice (Figure 4(d)). Trpc3-/- mice exhibited significantly lower levels of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) in dermal fibroblasts after TGFβ1 treatment than Trpc3+/+ mice (Figure 4(e)). Taken together, these results suggest that TRPC3 deficiency attenuates myofibroblast transdifferentiation by inhibiting the NOX4/pSmad2/3 pathway during wound healing (Figures 4(f) and 4(g)).Figure 4
Trpc3-/- attenuated myofibroblast transdifferentiation through inhibition of NOX4/pSmad in vivo. Wound granulation tissues were harvested 6 days after wounding, and immunochemistry with a primary antibody against αSMA was performed. (a) Representative immunohistochemical images showing αSMA expression in wound granulation tissues from Trpc3+/+ mice and Trpc3-/- mice. Vascular smooth muscle cells were stained with an anti-αSMA antibody in granulation tissues from Trpc3+/+ mice as an internal positive control. The scale bar represents 100 μm. (b, c) Western blot analysis of TGFβ1, αSMA, fibronectin (Fibro), and Col1a1 levels in wound granulation tissues from Trpc3+/+ and Trpc3-/- mice. n=6. ∗p<0.05 vs. Trpc3+/+ mice. (d) TRPC3 immunoreactivity was detected with an anti-TRPC3 antibody (96 kDa) in homogenates of primary fibroblasts from Trpc3+/+ mice but not in those from Trpc3-/- mice. (e) Quantification of thapsigargin (TG, 1 μmol/L)-induced SOCE and additional Ca2+ (1 mmol/L) in dermal fibroblasts from Trpc3+/+ and Trpc3-/-mice. (f, g) Western blot analysis of NOX4, pSmad2/3, and Smad2/3 in wound granulation tissues from Trpc3+/+ and Trpc3-/- mice. n=3. ∗p<0.05 vs. Trpc3+/+ mice.
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## 3.1. Increased TRPC3 Promoted Fibroblast Transdifferentiation into Myofibroblasts

First, we investigated the effect of TRPC3 on myofibroblast transdifferentiation by immunofluorescence staining. TGFβ1 treatment time-dependently increased myofibroblast transdifferentiation by increasing the expression of the myofibroblast marker αSMA in cultured human fibroblasts. In contrast, treatment with the TRPC3 inhibitor Pyr3 significantly reduced αSMA expression in cultured human fibroblasts compared with that in control cells (Figures 1(a) and 1(b)). Immunohistochemical staining showed that TRPC3 and TGFβ1 more strongly expressed the epidermis and dermis in human HTS tissues than in normal skin tissues (Figure 1(c)). RT-PCR showed that TRPC3 mRNA (Figure 1(d)) and TGFβ1 mRNA levels (Figure 1(e)) were higher in human HTS tissues than in normal skin tissues. TGFβ1 treatment elevated TRPC3 and αSMA protein expression, but administration of Pyr3 significantly reduced TRPC3 and αSMA expression in cultured human fibroblasts (Figures 1(f) and 1(g)). These data indicate that TRPC3 is involved in human hypertrophic scarring and that inhibition of TRPC3 decreases TGFβ1-induced myofibroblast transdifferentiation.Figure 1
Effects of TRPC3 on myofibroblast transdifferentiation of human fibroblasts. Human fibroblasts were treated with TGFβ1 alone (10 ng/mL) or with TGFβ1 and Pyr3 (10 μmol/L) for 12 h (upper panel) or 24 h (lower panel). (a) Immunofluorescence staining and (b) myofibroblasts (αSMA+, green) and nucleic acid staining (blue). This experiment was repeated three times, and the percentage of αSMA+ myofibroblasts was quantified over the three experiments. The bars are 100 μm. ∗p<0.05, #p>0.05 vs. control (cont); n=3 independent experiments. (c) Immunohistochemical staining of TRPC3 and TGFβ1 expression in hypertrophic scar (HTS) tissues and normal skin tissues. Vascular smooth muscle cells were stained with anti-TRPC3 and anti-TGFβ1 antibodies in HTS tissue sections as internal positive controls. The scale bar represents 100 μm in the 10x images. (d, e) TRPC3 and TGFβ1 mRNA levels as assessed by RT-PCR in human HTS tissues and normal skin tissues. p<0.05, p<0.001 vs. normal skin tissues by Student’s t-test. (f, g) Western blot analysis of TRPC3 and αSMA in human fibroblasts under treatment with TGFβ1 alone (TGFβ1, 10 ng/mL) or with TGFβ1 and Pyr3 (10 μmol/L) for 24 h or under control conditions without TGFβ1 treatment. ∗p<0.05, #p>0.05 vs. control (cont).
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## 3.2. Inhibition of TRPC3 Attenuated TGFβ1-Induced Mitochondrial Ca2+ Homeostasis in Human Fibroblasts

Next, to assess the effects of the TGFβ1-stimulated increases in TRPC3, we examined the changes in cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ handling in human fibroblasts. Administration of TGFβ1 time-dependently elevated [Ca2+]cyt (Figures 2(a)–2(d)) and [Ca2+]mito (Figures 2(a)–2(h)) in human fibroblasts. In contrast, administration of the TRPC3 inhibitor Pyr3 significantly attenuated the effects of TGFβ1. These results suggest that TGFβ1-mediated enhancement of TRPC3 function contributes to regulating mitochondrial Ca2+ handling in human fibroblasts.Figure 2
Effect of TRPC3 inhibition on cytoplasmic and mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis in human fibroblasts. SOCE was measured with thapsigargin (TG), and (a–d) [Ca2+]cyt and (e–h) [Ca2+]mito were quantified in human primary-cultured fibroblasts under control conditions or under TGFβ1 (10 ng/mL) treatment for 12 h (a, b, e, f) or 24 h (c, d, g, h). TG (1 μmol/L) was added after preincubation with Pyr3 (10 μmol/L). The ATP concentration was 200 μmol/L in a 0.3 mmol/L extracellular Ca2+ solution after preincubation with Pyr3 (10 μmol/L). n=6 per group. ∗∗p<0.01, #p>0.05 vs. controls.
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## 3.3. Inhibition of TRPC3 Reduced ROS Production and Improved Mitochondrial Function in Human Fibroblasts

We then investigated the effects of TGFβ1 and Pyr3 treatment on mitochondrial ROS production and respiratory functions in human fibroblasts. Specifically, compared with the control treatment, TGFβ1 treatment significantly reduced the values of mitochondrial respiratory function parameters, such as CIOXPHOS, CI+IIOXPHOS, CIIETS, and CI+IIETS, in human fibroblasts. However, Pyr3 treatment significantly reversed the changes in these mitochondrial parameters (Figures 3(a) and 3(b)). p-PDHE1α levels were significantly increased in TGFβ1-treated human fibroblasts, but total PDHE1a levels were not altered (Figures 3(c) and 3(d)). The wound granulation tissues from Trpc3-/- mice had lower p-PDHE1α levels than those from Trpc3+/+ mice (Figures 3(e) and 3(f)). Furthermore, administration of TGFβ1 increased cellular and mitochondrial ROS and H2O2 production and reduced ATP levels in human fibroblasts compared with those in control cells, but Pyr3 treatment significantly reversed these changes (Figures 3(g)–3(j)). These results indicate that inhibition of TRPC3 reduces TGFβ1-induced ROS production and improves mitochondrial function in human fibroblasts.Figure 3
Effects of TRPC3 on ROS production and mitochondrial function in human fibroblasts. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption was measured in human fibroblasts treated with TGFβ1 (10 ng/mL) for 24 h via Oxygraph-2k high-resolution respirometry. (a) The test protocol is shown. (b) The values are expressed in pmol/s per 106 cells. Summarized data for oxygen consumption capacity. N=6, ∗p<0.05, ∗∗p<0.01, #p>0.05 vs. controls. (c, d) p-PDHE1α and total PDHE1α (t-PDHE1α) protein expression in human fibroblasts treated with TGFβ1 alone (10 ng/mL) or with TGFβ1 and Pyr3 (10 μmol/L) for 24 h. ∗∗p<0.01, #p>0.05 vs. controls. (e, f) p-PDHE1α and t-PDHE1α protein expression in dermal fibroblasts from WT or Trpc3-/- mice. ∗p<0.05 vs. WT. (g) DHE staining for cellular ROS, (h) mitochondrial ROS levels, (i) H2O2 production, and (j) ATP levels in human fibroblasts under TGFβ1 treatment (10 ng/mL) or TGFβ1 and Pyr3 treatment (10 μmol/L) for 24 h. N=6, ∗p<0.05, ∗∗p<0.01, #p>0.05 vs. controls.
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## 3.4. TRPC3 Deficiency Attenuated Myofibroblast Transdifferentiation by Inhibiting the NOX4/pSmad Pathway

We further investigated the effect of TRPC3-mediated Ca2+ signalling on myofibroblast transdifferentiation in vivo. 8 mm wounds were created in the skin on the backs of Trpc3+/+ and Trpc3-/- mice. The wound granulation tissues were harvested after 6 days and assessed by immunochemical staining with an anti-αSMA antibody. The myofibroblast marker αSMA was abundantly expressed in the wound granulation tissues from Trpc3+/+ mice compared with those from Trpc3-/- mice (Figure 4(a)). TRPC3 deficiency significantly decreased αSMA, TGFβ1, fibronectin, and Col1a1 protein expression in wound granulation tissues (Figures 4(b) and 4(c)). Furthermore, western blotting confirmed that the TRPC3 protein was expressed in dermal fibroblasts from Trpc3+/+ mice but not in those from Trpc3-/- mice (Figure 4(d)). Trpc3-/- mice exhibited significantly lower levels of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) in dermal fibroblasts after TGFβ1 treatment than Trpc3+/+ mice (Figure 4(e)). Taken together, these results suggest that TRPC3 deficiency attenuates myofibroblast transdifferentiation by inhibiting the NOX4/pSmad2/3 pathway during wound healing (Figures 4(f) and 4(g)).Figure 4
Trpc3-/- attenuated myofibroblast transdifferentiation through inhibition of NOX4/pSmad in vivo. Wound granulation tissues were harvested 6 days after wounding, and immunochemistry with a primary antibody against αSMA was performed. (a) Representative immunohistochemical images showing αSMA expression in wound granulation tissues from Trpc3+/+ mice and Trpc3-/- mice. Vascular smooth muscle cells were stained with an anti-αSMA antibody in granulation tissues from Trpc3+/+ mice as an internal positive control. The scale bar represents 100 μm. (b, c) Western blot analysis of TGFβ1, αSMA, fibronectin (Fibro), and Col1a1 levels in wound granulation tissues from Trpc3+/+ and Trpc3-/- mice. n=6. ∗p<0.05 vs. Trpc3+/+ mice. (d) TRPC3 immunoreactivity was detected with an anti-TRPC3 antibody (96 kDa) in homogenates of primary fibroblasts from Trpc3+/+ mice but not in those from Trpc3-/- mice. (e) Quantification of thapsigargin (TG, 1 μmol/L)-induced SOCE and additional Ca2+ (1 mmol/L) in dermal fibroblasts from Trpc3+/+ and Trpc3-/-mice. (f, g) Western blot analysis of NOX4, pSmad2/3, and Smad2/3 in wound granulation tissues from Trpc3+/+ and Trpc3-/- mice. n=3. ∗p<0.05 vs. Trpc3+/+ mice.
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## 4. Discussion

Hypertrophic scar (HTS) is a devastating sequela of injury characterized by overproliferation ofαSMA-expressing myofibroblasts. Here, we verified that TRPC3 participates in abnormal mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis and ROS production and promotes αSMA myofibroblast differentiation during wound healing. TRPC3 and TGFβ1 mRNA expression levels were increased in fibroblasts from HTS tissues. TRPC3 deficiency decreased TGFβ1-induced SOCE-mediated Ca2+ influx and αSMA, TGFβ1, fibronectin, and Col1a1 protein expression in fibroblasts or wound granulation tissues. TRPC3 deficiency attenuated hypertrophic scar through inhibition of the NOX4/pSmad2/3 pathway in vivo (Figure 5). Our findings highlight essential roles for TRPC3-mediated mitochondrial Ca2+ handling and ROS production in regulating myofibroblast transdifferentiation during wound healing.Figure 5
Schematic illustration depicting the mechanism by which enhanced TRPC3-mediated mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis and ROS generation contribute to myofibroblast transdifferentiation via the NOX4/pSmad pathway in the hypertrophic scars.TRP channels are associated with wound healing in different tissue types [21–24]. TRPV2 inhibitor has been found to attenuate fibroblast differentiation and contraction mediated by keratinocyte-derived TGFβ1 in a rat wound healing model [21], and TRPV1-deficient mice exhibit impaired healing of corneal incision injuries [22]. TRPA1-deficient mice exhibit suppressed neovascularization of the corneal stroma [23], and activation of TRPV3-mediated Ca2+ influx accelerates corneal epithelial cell proliferation [24]. In addition, TRP-mediated Ca2+ signal transduction activates several transcription factors in the nucleus to produce cytokines and to suppress murine T-cell activation and endogenous inflammation-induced intracellular Ca2+ increases [25]. Furthermore, Ca2+ activity mediated by TRPC6 through p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) contributes to myofibroblast transdifferentiation [17]. In the present study, we found that TRPC3-mediated elevations in mitochondrial Ca2+ and ROS production regulate myofibroblast transdifferentiation during wound healing.Mitochondrial Ca2+ diminishes the levels of ROS produced by complexes I and III but enhances ROS generation if these complexes are dysfunctional. Excessive mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake promotes ROS production [26], and oxidative stress promotes redistribution of TRPM2 to the plasma membrane in hepatocytes [27]. In addition, ROS-mediated TRPC6 activation in vascular cells is associated with abnormal vascular tone in puromycin aminonucleoside-induced podocyte injury [28]. Suppression of Nox4 decreases myofibroblast formation and fibrosis in lung, liver, kidney, and cardiac injury models [29, 30]. Furthermore, PDHE1α phosphorylation is mediated by redox-sensitive PDH kinase, which is activated by mitochondrial ROS [31]. However, the regulation of PDH activity during myofibroblast transdifferentiation is poorly understood. We found that TGFβ1 enhanced PDHE1α phosphorylation, inhibited TRPC3 by Pyr3 reducing PDH kinase and recovering PDH activity. Recently, Ljaz T. showed that TGFβ1-induced myofibroblast transformation is associated with the ROS-producing enzyme Nox4. Our previous study indicated that inhibition of TRPC3 attenuates mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and ROS production in the vasculature of hypertensive rats. In the present study, we found that the levels of TGFβ1-induced Ca2+ influx and ROS production were significantly lower in dermal fibroblasts from Trpc3-/- mice or Pyr3-treated human fibroblasts. In Trpc3-/- mice, myofibroblast transdifferentiation during wound healing was impaired due to inhibition of the Nox4/pSmad2/3 pathway.TGFβ signalling has been implicated in wound healing. TGFβ1 inhibits the proliferation of keratinocytes but stimulates the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts [6]. TGFβ1 has been found in wound fluid from chronic ulcers, and fibroblasts isolated from chronic venous ulcers show decreased levels of TGFβ RII. Notably, disruption of the TGFβ/Smad3 signalling pathway by loss of Smad3 confers resistance to tissue fibrosis in the skin, kidneys, lungs, and liver [9, 10]. Furthermore, Smad3 WT mice treated with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) develop colorectal fibrosis and exhibit upregulation of TGFβ1, Smad3, avβ6 integrin, and mTOR but downregulation of PPAR-γ [32]. PPAR-γ has anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects in inflammatory bowel disease related to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), IL-1, and TGFβ [33]. Activation of TGFβ1/Smads by mast cell chymase promotes HTS fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis [34]. In the present study, our data demonstrated that inhibition of TRPC3 attenuated TGFβ1-induced myofibroblast transdifferentiation by inhibiting ROS production and alleviated abnormalities in mitochondrial respiratory function in fibroblasts. These findings suggest that TRPC3 upregulation-mediated ROS activation of the Nox4/pSmad2/3 pathway may be the mechanism by which TGFβ1 promotes myofibroblast transdifferentiation during wound healing.In summary, we tested the hypothesis that TGFβ1 activates TRPC3-mediated mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis and ROS production to promote myofibroblast transdifferentiation and HTS formation.


## 5. Conclusions

The results of this study demonstrate a potential mechanism of TGFβ1-enhanced TRPC3 activity at the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial levels, which contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction in dermal fibroblasts after injury. TRPC3 can regulate [Ca2+]mito, ROS production, and mitochondrial energy metabolism to promote myofibroblast formation during wound healing.



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*Source: 1202189-2020-03-05.xml*