Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in the airway: role in airway disease

Abstract

Over the last few decades, there has been an explosion of scientific publications reporting the many and varied roles of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels in physiological and pathological systems throughout the body. The aim of this review is to summarize the existing literature on the role of TRP channels in the lungs and discuss what is known about their function under normal and diseased conditions. The review will focus mainly on the pathogenesis and symptoms of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the role of four members of the TRP family: TRPA1, TRPV1, TRPV4 and TRPM8. We hope that the article will help the reader understand the role of TRP channels in the normal airway and how their function may be changed in the context of respiratory disease.

Keywords: COPD; TRP channels; airway; asthma.

Figure 1

Overview of the role of TRP channels in the airway. The figure represents an overview of how TRP channels are involved in the physiology of the normal airway and how they could be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma and COPD. The middle arch indicates the four TRP channels, with examples of exogenous activators (EXO) in the outer arch, the temperatures (°C) that trigger the channels on the second arch. Examples of endogenous channel modulators (ENDO) including osmolarity-induced changes in cell membrane tension (Osmolar) and acidification of the epithelial surrounding (Acid) are displayed on the inner arch.AITC = allyl isothiocyanate. = Osmolar. = Acid.