TRPA1, a versatile ion channel of the Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channel family, detects a large variety of chemicals and can contribute to signal processing of other stimuli, e.g., due to its sensitivity to cytosolic calcium elevation or phosphoinositolphosphate modulation. At first, TRPA1 was found on sensory neurons, where it can act as a sensor for potential or actual tissue damage that ultimately may elicit pain or itch as warning symptoms. This review provides an update regarding the analgesic and antipruritic potential of TRPA1 modulation and the respective clinical trials. Furthermore, TRPA1 has been found in an increasing amount of other cell types. Therefore, the main focus of the review is to discuss the non-analgesic and particularly the disease-modifying potential of TRPA1. This includes diseases of the respiratory system, cancer, ischemia, allergy, diabetes, and the gastrointestinal system. The involvement of TRPA1 in the respective pathophysiological cascades is so far mainly based on pre-clinical data.
Keywords: clinical study; drug development; ion channel; itch; pain; pharmacology; therapy.