TRPM7 is an essential regulator for volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying anion channel

Animal cells can regulate their volume after swelling by the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) mechanism. In epithelial cells, RVD is attained through KCl release mediated via volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying Cl− channels (VSOR) and Ca2+-activated K+ channels. Swelling-induced activation of TRPM7 cation channels leads to Ca2+ influx, thereby stimulating the K+ channels. Here, we examined whether TRPM7 plays any role in VSOR activation. When TRPM7 was knocked down in human HeLa cells or knocked out in chicken DT40 cells, not only TRPM7 activity and RVD efficacy but also VSOR activity were suppressed. Heterologous expression of TRPM7 in TRPM7-deficient DT40 cells rescued both VSOR activity and RVD, accompanied by an increase in the expression of LRRC8A, a core molecule of VSOR. TRPM7 exerts the facilitating action on VSOR activity first by enhancing molecular expression of LRRC8A mRNA through the mediation of steady-state Ca2+ influx and second by stabilizing the plasmalemmal expression of LRRC8A protein through the interaction between LRRC8A and the C-terminal domain of TRPM7. Therefore, TRPM7 functions as an essential regulator of VSOR activity and LRRC8A expression.

Numata et al examine whether the TRPM7 ion channel plays a role in the activation of volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying Cl− channels (VSOR) using human and chicken cell lines. By genetically-manipulating the expression of TRPM7 and performing electrophysiology, they demonstrate that TRPM7 is an essential regulator of VSOR activity.