Pharmacological Inhibition of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) Channel Alleviates Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice

Background: Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is a member of the TRP channel family and is involved in diverse physiological and pathological processes. Accumulating evidence from in vitro studies indicates that TRPV4 has a potential role in liver fibrosis, but its precise role in the pathophysiological development of this condition is unclear. Exogenous interventions and endogenous reactions should be considered. Methods: This study used a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis to investigate the effects of intraperitoneal injection of the novel TRPV4 channel selective agonist GSK1016790A (GSK) and antagonist HC-067047 (HC). Results: As compared with the CCl4 group, collagen fiber deposition and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) levels were markedly higher and hepatic lobule disorganization was worse in the CCl4+GSK group, while collagen fiber deposition was significantly lower and hepatic lobule disorganization was less severe in the CCl4+HC group. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that activation of TRPV4 channels worsens liver fibrosis and that inhibition of TRPV4 channels may alleviate liver fibrosis in vivo.