Transient receptor potential ion channels: powerful regulators of cell function.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This article reviews the current understanding of transient receptor potential ion channels (TRP channels) in health and disease.

BACKGROUND:

Transient receptor potential ion channels are a group of 27 channels that are expressed in all tissues. These channels play important roles in surgically important problems, such as chronic pain, susceptibility to infection, hypothermia, and some cancers.

METHODS:

A literature search was performed. This review focuses on the role of TRP channels in a few surgically important disease processes, such as pain, inflammation, airway diseases, and malignant melanomas. In addition, we discuss some of the structural properties that are important for the activation of TRP channels.

RESULTS:

TRPA1 and TRPV1 are expressed on pain fibers and play an important role in the development of chronic pain, such as chemotherapy-related neuropathic pain. Deletion of TRPA1 and TRPV1 suppresses the development of chronic pain, and blockers of TRPA1 and TRPV1 show promise as a new class of painkillers. Furthermore, several TRP channels are expressed on immune cells. Macrophages express at least 3 different TRP channels, and the properly balanced activation of all these channels together allows normal macrophage function. Deletion of any of these channels results in impaired macrophage function and increased susceptibility to infection. Because several of these TRP channels on macrophages are temperature sensitive, they may comprise the link for hypothermia-related infectious complications in trauma, and to a lesser degree, in elective surgical patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

Transient receptor potential ion channels are involved in several surgically important disease processes. Activation or blockade of these channels offers new therapeutic opportunities. Pharmacologic activation or blockade of TRP channels may offer new treatment options in surgical patients for the management of pain and infections.

• Authors: Adrian T Billeter, Jason L Hellmann, Aruni Bhatnagar, Hiram C Polk Jr
• Journal: Annals of surgery (Ann Surg) Vol. 259 Issue 2 Pg. 229-35 (Feb 2014) ISSN: 1528-1140 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23989052 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Biomarkers
• Calcium Channels
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• TRPA1 Cation Channel
• TRPA1 protein, human
• TRPV Cation Channels
• TRPV1 protein, human
• Thiophenes
• Transient Receptor Potential Channels
• Duloxetine Hydrochloride
• Capsaicin

Topics

• Analgesics (therapeutic use)
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Calcium Channels (metabolism)
• Capsaicin (therapeutic use)
• Chronic Pain (metabolism)
• Duloxetine Hydrochloride
• Humans
• Inflammation (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Macrophages (metabolism)
• Melanoma (metabolism)
• Monocytes (metabolism)
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Pain, Postoperative (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Respiratory Tract Diseases (metabolism)
• Surgical Wound Infection (metabolism, prevention & control)
• TRPA1 Cation Channel
• TRPV Cation Channels (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Thiophenes (therapeutic use)
• Transient Receptor Potential Channels (antagonists & inhibitors, immunology, metabolism)