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Feeling hot, feeling cold: TRP channels-a great story unfolds

Irina Vetter1, Philip R Kym2, Arpad Szallasi3

  • 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience & School of Pharmacy; The University of Queensland ; Brisbane, Australia.

Temperature (Austin, Tex.)
|May 27, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels are key to sensing temperature and regulating body heat. Understanding their function offers therapeutic potential for various conditions, but also presents drug development challenges.

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels are crucial molecular sensors involved in thermoreception.
  • These channels play significant roles in maintaining body temperature homeostasis.
  • Dysregulation of TRP channel activity is implicated in various physiological and pathological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of TRP channels in thermosensation and thermoregulation.
  • To discuss the therapeutic potential and challenges associated with targeting TRP channels.
  • To highlight the current and future applications of TRP channel modulation in medicine.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on TRP channels.
  • Analysis of clinical trial data for TRP channel-targeting drugs.
  • Discussion of the physiological mechanisms underlying TRP channel function in temperature regulation.

Main Results:

  • TRP channels (e.g., TRPV1, TRPA1, TRPM8) are implicated in sensing both heat and cold.
  • Drugs targeting TRP channels are in clinical trials for pain, cough, bladder conditions, and cancer.
  • TRP channel antagonists have shown potential but also limitations, such as hyperthermia, impacting drug development.

Conclusions:

  • TRP channels are vital targets for modulating temperature sensation and body temperature regulation.
  • Targeting thermosensitive TRP channels holds promise for treating pain, itch, stroke, asthma, and metabolic disorders.
  • Further research is needed to overcome challenges and fully exploit the therapeutic potential of TRP channel modulators.
Keywords:
TRP, transient receptor potentialTRPA1TRPA1, transient receptor potential ankyrin 1TRPM3TRPM8TRPM8, transient receptor potential melastatin 8TRPV1, transient receptor potential vanilloid 1capsaicintemperature-sensitive TRP channels (“thermoTRPs”)the capsaicin receptor TRPV1

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