TRPV4 is a non-selective calcium-permeable cation channel with temperature sensitivity and widely expressed and activated in various neurons and glial cells in the nervous system. Schwann cells (SCs) are primary glia cells that wrap around axons to form the myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system. Deletion of TRPV4 did not affect normal myelin development for SCs in sciatic nerves in mice. However, after sciatic nerve cut injury, TRPV4 expression levels were remarkably increased in SCs following nerve demyelination. Ablation of TRPV4 expression impaired the demyelinating process after nerve injury, resulting in delayed remyelination and functional recovery of sciatic nerves. These results suggest that local activation of TRPV4 could be an attractive pharmacological target for therapeutic intervention after peripheral nerve injury. Microglia maintain central nervous system homeostasis by monitoring changes in their environment and by taking protective actions to equilibrate such changes. We demonstrate that mouse microglia exhibit temperature-dependent movement in vitro and in vivo that is mediated by TRPV4 channels within the physiological range of body temperature. These findings may provide a new basis for future research into the potential clinical application of temperature regulation to preserve cell function via manipulation of TRPV4 activity.
 

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