Targeting TRPs in neurodegenerative disorders

Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis present a significant medical challenge in the modern world. Recent evidence indicates that perturbation of neuronal Ca2+ homeostasis is involved in the pathogenesis of these neurodegenerative disorders. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are non-selective cation channels that are expressed in various cell types and tissues, and play an important role in regulating Ca2+ signaling in both non-neuronal and neuronal cells. TRP channels are related to the onset or progression of several diseases, and defects in the genes encoding TRP channels (so-called "TRP channelopathies") underlie certain neurodegenerative disorders due to their abnormal Ca2+ signaling properties. In this article, we review recent findings regarding the relationship between TRPs and neurodegenerative disorders, and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting TRP channels pharmacologically.