TRP channels in health and disease at a glance

Abstract

The transient receptor potential (TRP) channel superfamily consists of a large group of non-selective cation channels that serve as cellular sensors for a wide spectrum of physical and environmental stimuli. The 28 mammalian TRPs, categorized into six subfamilies, including TRPC (canonical), TRPV (vanilloid), TRPM (melastatin), TRPA (ankyrin), TRPML (mucolipin) and TRPP (polycystin), are widely expressed in different cells and tissues. TRPs exhibit a variety of unique features that not only distinguish them from other superfamilies of ion channels, but also confer diverse physiological functions. Located at the plasma membrane or in the membranes of intracellular organelles, TRPs are the cellular safeguards that sense various cell stresses and environmental stimuli and translate this information into responses at the organismal level. Loss- or gain-of-function mutations of TRPs cause inherited diseases and pathologies in different physiological systems, whereas up- or down-regulation of TRPs is associated with acquired human disorders. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we briefly summarize the history of the discovery of TRPs, their unique features, recent advances in the understanding of TRP activation mechanisms, the structural basis of TRP Ca2+ selectivity and ligand binding, as well as potential roles in mammalian physiology and pathology.

Expression and distribution of the transient receptor potential cationic channel ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) in the human seminal vesicles

“…Besides being reactive to temperature, it also interacts with endogenous signaling molecules, natural compounds from plants (e.g., mustard, wasabi, garlic, horseradish, or cinnamon), and other chemicals (e.g., paraben, acrolein). 15 , 16 , 17 In the human urogenital tract, where NO is an established signaling molecule, modulatory functions by NO on the activity of TRPA1 have been suggested. Furthermore, dihydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), another endogenous signaling molecule that activates TRPA1, has been reported to be involved in the regulation of functions of the lower urinary tract and cardiovascular system and the mediation of neurogenic inflammation but is also produced by invading uropathogens .…”

“…In addition, the role of TRPA1 in the physiological response to noxious provocation and the involvement of the ion channel in pain and inflammation emphasizes its importance in medicine. Besides being reactive to temperature, it also interacts with endogenous signaling molecules, natural compounds from plants (e.g., mustard, wasabi, garlic, horseradish, or cinnamon), and other chemicals (e.g., paraben, acrolein) 15–17 . In the human urogenital tract, where NO is an established signaling molecule, modulatory functions by NO on the activity of TRPA1 have been suggested.…”

Systematic Analysis and Identification of Molecular Subtypes of TRP-Related Genes and Prognosis Prediction in Lung Adenocarcinoma

“…TRP channels are cation channels found on the surface of cell membranes that can penetrate Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + , K + , and other cations. The TRP superfamily is categorized into seven subfamilies on the basis of the amino acid sequence homology, which is as follows: TRPM, TRPML, TRPA, TRPC, TRPN, TRPP, and TRPV [ 13 , 14 ]. In tumors, the signal pathway imbalance can regulate the expression level of some TRP channels, thus altering the sensitivity and adaptability of cells to the external environment [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Emerging role of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels in cardiac fibroblast pathophysiology

“…Historically, the trp gene and TRP proteins were identified in a mutant drosophila melanogaster with a defect in the Ca 2+ influx component of the visual transduction pathway ( Hardie and Minke, 1992 ). Since then, almost 30 TRPs have been identified and classified into subgroups ( Nilius and Owsianik, 2011 ; Yue and Xu, 2021 ): canonical (TRPC), vanilloid (TRPV), melastatin (TRPM), ankyrin (TRPA), polycystin (TRPP), mucolipin (TRPML), as well as the no mechanoreceptor potential (TRPN). Many TRP channels are present in the heart [see ( Freichel et al, 2017 )], in which they may participate in the regulation of normal function or in pathophysiological processes ( Hof et al, 2019 ; Inoue et al, 2019 ).…”