title: Cation channels of the transient receptor potential superfamily: their role in physiological and pathophysiological processes of smooth muscle cells.
abstract: Smooth muscle cells (SMC) are essential components of many tissues of the body. Ion channels regulate their membrane potential, the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) and their contractility. Among the ion channels expressed in SMC cation channels of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily allow the entry of Na(+), Ca(2+) and Mg(2+). Members of the TRP superfamily are essential constituents of tonically active channels (TAC), receptor-operated channels (ROC), store-operated channels (SOC) and stretch-activated channels (SAC). This review focusses on TRP channels (TRPC1, TRPC3, TRPC4, TRPC5, TRPC6, TRPC7, TRPV2, TRPV4, TRPM4, TRPM7, TRPP2) whose physiological functions in SMC were dissected by downregulating channel activity in isolated tissues or by the analysis of gene-deficient mouse models. Their possible functional role and physiological regulation as homomeric or heteromeric channels in SMC are discussed. Moreover, TRP channels may also be responsible for pathophysiological processes involving SMC-like airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary hypertension. Therefore, they present important drug targets for future pharmacological interventions.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch Str. 1, 35043 Marburg, Germany. dietrica@staff.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chubanov
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kalwa
authors.forename: Benjamin R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Rost
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gudermann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology; D002412:Cations / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D007473:Ion Channels; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels