The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 and ankyrin 1 (TRPV1 and TRPA1, respectively) channels are members of the TRP superfamily of structurally related, non-selective cation channels. It is rapidly becoming clear that the functions of TRPV1 and TRPA1 interlink with each other to a considerable extent. This is especially clear in relation to pain and neurogenic inflammation where TRPV1 is coexpressed on the vast majority of TRPA1-expressing sensory nerves and both integrate a variety of noxious stimuli. The more recent discovery that both TRPV1 and TRPA1 are expressed on a multitude of non-neuronal sites has led to a plethora of research into possible functions of these receptors. Non-neuronal cells on which TRPV1 and TRPA1 are expressed vary from vascular smooth muscle to keratinocytes and endothelium. This review will discuss the expression, functionality and roles of these non-neuronal TRP channels away from sensory nerves to demonstrate the diverse nature of TRPV1 and TRPA1 in addition to a direct role in pain and neurogenic inflammation. AbbreviationsPBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cell; TRPA1, transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily A member 1; TRPV1, transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1

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Kinins are a family of peptides implicated in several pathophysiological events. Most of their effects are likely mediated by the activation of two G-protein-coupled receptors: B 1 and B 2 . Whereas B 2 receptors are constitutive entities, B 1 receptors behave as key inducible molecules that may be upregulated under some special circumstances. In this context, several recent reports have investigated the importance of B 1 receptor activation in certain disease models. Furthermore, research on B 1 receptors in the last years has been mainly focused in determining the mechanisms and pathways involved in the process of induction. This was essentially favoured by the advances obtained in molecular biology studies, as well as in the design of selective and stable peptide and nonpeptide kinin B 1 receptor antagonists. Likewise, development of kinin B 1 receptor knockout mice greatly helped to extend the evidence about the relevance of B 1 receptors during pathological states. In the present review, we attempted to remark the main advances achieved in the last 5 years about the participation of kinin B 1 receptors in painful and inflammatory disorders. We have also aimed to point out some groups of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis, cancer or neuropathic pain, in which the strategic development of nonpeptidic oral-available and selective B 1 receptor antagonists could have a potential relevant therapeutic interest.

Objective. To investigate the involvement of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) in inflammatory hyperalgesia mediated by tumor necrosis factor ␣ (TNF␣) and joint inflammation.Methods. Mechanical hyperalgesia was assessed in CD1 mice, mice lacking functional TRP vanilloid 1 (TRPV1 ؊/؊ ) or TRPA1 (TRPA1 ؊/؊ ), or respective wildtype (WT) mice. An automated von Frey system was used, following unilateral intraplantar injection of TNF␣ or intraarticular injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA). Knee swelling and histologic changes were determined in mice treated with intraarticular injections of CFA.Results. TNF␣ induced cyclooxygenase-independent bilateral mechanical hyperalgesia in CD1 mice. The selective TRPV1 receptor antagonist SB-366791 had no effect on mechanical hyperalgesia when it was coinjected with TNF␣, but intrathecally administered SB-366791 attenuated bilateral hyperalgesia, indicating the central but not peripheral involvement of TRPV1 receptors. A decrease in pain sensitivity was also observed in TRPV1 ؊/؊ mice. Intraplantar coadministration of the TRPA1 receptor antagonist AP-18 with TNF␣ inhibited bilateral hyperalgesia. Intrathecal treatment with AP-18 also reduced TNF␣-induced hyperalgesia. CFA-induced mechanical hyperalgesia in CD1 mice was attenuated by AP-18 (administered by intraarticular injection 22 hours after the administration of CFA). Furthermore, intraarticular CFA-induced ipsilateral mechanical hyperalgesia was maintained for 3 weeks in TRPA1 WT mice. In contrast, TRPA1 ؊/؊ mice exhibited mechanical hyperalgesia for only 24 hours after receiving CFA.Conclusion. Evidence suggests that endogenous activation of peripheral TRPA1 receptors plays a critical role in the development of TNF␣-induced mechanical hyperalgesia and in sustaining the mechanical hyperalgesia observed after intraaarticular injection of CFA. These results suggest that blockade of TRPA1 receptors may be beneficial in reducing the chronic pain associated with arthritis.Sensory nerves consisting of C and A␦ nerve fibers innervate joints and skin and are often located in close association with blood vessels (1-3). Nerve stimulation in inflamed joints is considered to play a primary role in arthritis-related pain, and sensory afferent nerves have been located in joints, where they terminate in subsynovial connective tissue (4). Certain members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) receptor family, which are expressed on sensory nerves, are involved as key molecular integrators in the initiation and maintenance of joint pain, although the precise mechanisms involved are unclear (5,6).

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