TRPV channels as thermosensory receptors in epithelial cells

Hyosang Lee, Michael J. Caterina

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

125 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)160-167
Number of pages8
JournalPflugers Archiv European Journal of Physiology
Volume451
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2005

Keywords

  • Epithelia
  • Ion channel
  • Keratinocytes
  • Pain
  • Skin
  • TRPV
  • Temperature
  • Thermosensation

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