TRPV channels as thermosensory receptors in epithelial cells.
Temperature-sensitive transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) ion channels are critical contributors to normal pain and temperature sensation and therefore represent attractive targets for pain therapy. When these channels were first discovered, most attention was focused on their potential contributions to direct thermal activation of peripheral sensory neurons. However, recent anatomical, physiological, and behavioral studies have provided evidence that TRPV channels expressed in skin epithelial cells may also contribute to thermosensation in vitro and in vivo. Here, we review these studies and speculate on possible communication mechanisms from cutaneous epithelial cells to sensory neurons.
Lee
Hyosang
H
Departments of Biological Chemistry and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Caterina
Michael J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature
D015220:Calcium Channels; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C493921:TRPV1 protein, mouse; C485717:Trpv2 protein, mouse; C486760:Trpv3 protein, mouse; C486576:Trpv4 protein, mouse