The role of TRP channels in sensory neurons.
Two parallel processes characterize the contemporary pain field. Firstly, enormous progress is being made in the discovery of the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis of pain and secondly, there is a growing appreciation that multiple mechanisms contribute to common clinical pain syndromes. The aim of this chapter is to provide a short overview how transient receptor potential (TRP) channels could contribute to acute and chronic pain states. TRP channels of the vanilloid family (TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV3, TRPV4) are excited by heat stimuli whereas TRPM8 and ANKTM1 are cold responsive. TRPV1 and ANKTM1 are mediating the pungency of nociceptor-specific chemicals such as capsaicin or mustard oil. Sensitization of TRPV1 is an important mechanisms for heat hyperalgesia and thus the generation of chronic pain symptoms.
Neural Plasticity Unit, Institute of Child Health, 30 Guildford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
Martin
M
Koltzenburg
D018771:Arthralgia / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000502:physiology*; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000502:physiology; D000074025:TRPA1 Cation Channel; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels; D050053:TRPM Cation Channels; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels / Q000502:physiology*
D015220:Calcium Channels; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D000074025:TRPA1 Cation Channel; C473350:TRPA1 protein, human; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels; D050053:TRPM Cation Channels; C425966:TRPM8 protein, human; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C400769:TRPV2 protein, human; C459445:TRPV3 protein, human; C416986:TRPV4 protein, human; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels; C096351:transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily C, member 1