The ability of cells to regulate their volume when exposed to anisotonic environments is important for cellular homeostasis. Hypotonic environments cause cells to swell through osmosis but many vertebrate cells quickly shrink back to normal by what is known as regulatory volume decrease (RVD). Marina Jendrach and co-workers now report that TRPV4, a member of the vanilloid subfamily of transient-receptor-potential channels, directly participates in RVD (see p. 2435). They show that RVD in HaCaT cells, a TRPV4-expressing human keratinocyte cell line, involves a significant Ca2+ influx. Both RVD and the Ca2+ influx are blocked by Gd3+, which inhibits TRPV4. Then, the authors express a TRPV4-EGFP fusion protein in CHO cells, which do not normally express TRPV4 or undergo RVD under hypotonic conditions. These engineered cells undergo RVD after a Ca2+ influx, and this is reduced by Gd3+. Together, these results suggest a model in which cellular swelling caused by osmosis increases tension in the cell membrane and activates TRPV4; this mediates a Ca2+ influx, which activates the signalling cascades that lead to RVD.
Why cells shrink from a swell time
Why cells shrink from a swell time. J Cell Sci 1 June 2005; 118 (11): e1102. doi:
Download citation file:
Advertisement
Cited by
Imaging Cell Architecture and Dynamics

We are now welcoming submissions for our upcoming Special Issue: Imaging Cell Architecture and Dynamics. This issue will be coordinated by two Guest Editors: Lucy Collinson (The Francis Crick Institute, UK) and Guillaume Jacquemet (University of Turku, Finland). Submission deadline: 1 March 2024.
2024 Journal Meeting 'Diversity and Evolution in Cell Biology'

Registration is open for our 2024 Journal Meeting Diversity and Evolution in Cell Biology, which aims to bring together evolutionary biologists and cell biologists investigating diverse aspects of cellular physiology. Early-bird deadline is 19 January 2024.
Become a FocalPlane correspondent

FocalPlane, our community site for microscopists, is looking to appoint three scientists as correspondents who will play a key role in developing and writing content over the coming year. Interested? Find out how to become a FocalPlane correspondent here.
Sustainable Conferencing Initiative

Through our Sustainable Conferencing Grants, we promote the use of new technology and greener modes of travel. Our blog posts showcase examples of sustainability in action and share experience about how new technologies and conference formats work in practice.
Reasons to submit to Journal of Cell Science

There are many benefits to publishing in Journal of Cell Science - read more about why you should choose JCS or visit our submission page now.