TRPV4 and Sepsis: Moreover, the absence of an effect of TRPV4 channel antagonists in the TNFα model of sepsis suggests that blocking TRPV4 does not protect tissues from the actions of TNFα and possibly other pro-inflammatory cytokines that are produced in high concentrations in sepsis, but instead likely modulates critical events preceding cytokine production during the initial pro-inflammatory phase of sepsis.