Endothelial Pannexin 1-TRPV4 channel signaling lowers pulmonary arterial pressure

Pannexin 1 (Panx1) is an ATP-efflux channel that controls endothelial function in the systemic circulation. However, the roles of endothelial Panx1 in resistance-sized pulmonary arteries (PAs) are unknown. Extracellular ATP dilates PAs through activation of endothelial TRPV4 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 4) ion channels. We hypothesized that endothelial Panx1-ATP- TRPV4 channel signaling promotes vasodilation and lowers pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP). Endothelial, but not smooth muscle, knockout of Panx1 or TRPV4 increased PA contractility and raised PAP. Panx1-effluxed extracellular ATP signaled through purinergic P2Y2 receptor (P2Y2R) to activate protein kinase C (PKC), which in turn activated endothelial TRPV4 channels. Finally, caveolin-1 provided a signaling scaffold for endothelial Panx1, P2Y2R, PKC, and TRPV4 channels in PAs, promoting their spatial proximity and enabling signaling interactions. These results indicate that endothelial Panx1-P2Y2R-TRPV4 channel signaling, facilitated by caveolin-1, reduces PA contractility and lowers PAP.