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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

A TIRF Microscopy Technique for Real-time, Simultaneous Imaging of the TCR and its Associated Signaling Proteins
Published on: March 22, 2012
TRP channels in lymphocytes
E C Schwarz1, M J Wolfs, S Tonner
1Institut für Physiologie, Universität des Saarlandes, Gebäude 58, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Abstract:
TRP proteins form ion channels that are activated following receptor stimulation. Several members of the TRP family are likely to be expressed in lymphocytes. However, in many studies, messenger RNA (mRNA) but not protein expression was analyzed and cell lines but not primary human or murine lymphocytes were used. Among the expressed TRP mRNAs are TRPC1, TRPC3, TRPM2, TRPM4, TRPM7, TRPV1, and TRPV2. Regulation of Ca2+ entry is a key process for lymphocyte activation, and TRP channels may both increase Ca2+ influx (such as TRPC3) or decrease Ca2+ influx through membrane depolarization (such as TRPM4). In the future, linking endogenous Ca2+/cation channels in lymphocytes with TRP proteins should lead to a better molecular understanding of lymphocyte activation.
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