Surfactant-induced TRPV1 activity--a novel mechanism for eye irritation?

The pain receptor transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) has been reported as one of the key components in the pain pathway. Activation of the receptor causes a Ca2+ influx with secondary effects leading to neurogenic inflammation. Here we report specific activation of TRPV1 by detergent-containing hygiene products measured as intracellular Ca2+ influxes in stably TRPV1-expressing neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Children products marketed as "painless" (containing lower concentration of detergents), and conditioners (without detergents) did not induce specific TRPV1 activation. Furthermore, low concentrations of the detergent sodium lauryl sulfate dose-dependently induced Ca2+ influxes that could be addressed to TRPV1. These results reveal a novel mechanistic pathway for surfactant-induced nociception, which may be an important endpoint in in vitro test batteries as alternatives to Draize's rabbit eye test for classification of eye irritating products.