OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of Ca(2+) store depletion on the translocation of vanilloid transient receptor potential (TRPV) 4-C1 heteromeric channels to the plasma membrane. METHODS AND RESULTS Vesicular trafficking is a key mechanism for controlling the surface expression of TRP channels in the plasma membrane, where they perform their function. TRP channels in vivo are often composed of...

It is known that application of tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) sensitizes neuronal calcium channels for heat stimuli in rat models of neuropathic pain. This study examines whether TNF-alpha modulates the capsaicin-induced effects after transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV)-1 receptor activation on voltage activated calcium channel currents (I(Ca(V))). TRPV-1 receptors are activ...

Electroacupuncture at the ST36 acupoint can enhance the body's immune function. However, the mechanism for this enhancement has not been fully described. Our study was designed to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on the immune function of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The rats were randomly divided into three groups: a control group, a non-acupoint group (abdominal muscle acupuntured) a...

Cutaneous mast cell responses to physical (thermal, mechanical, or osmotic) stimuli underlie the pathology of physical urticarias. In vitro experiments suggest that mast cells respond directly to these stimuli, implying that a signaling mechanism couples functional responses to physical inputs in mast cells. We asked whether transient receptor potential (vanilloid) (TRPV) cation channels were p...

Rosacea is a frequent chronic inflammatory skin disease of unknown etiology. Because early rosacea reveals all characteristics of neurogenic inflammation, a central role of sensory nerves in its pathophysiology has been discussed. Neuroinflammatory mediators and their receptors involved in rosacea are poorly defined. Good candidates may be transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels of vani...

The TRP (transient receptor potential) superfamily of cation channels is present in all eukaryotes, from yeast to mammals. Many TRP channels have been studied in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, revealing novel biological functions, regulatory modes, and mechanisms of localization. C. elegans TRPV channels function in olfaction, mechanosensation, osmosensation, and activity-dependent gene r...

Transient receptor potential (TRP) proteins form plasma-membrane cation channels that act as sensors for diverse cellular stimuli. Here, we report a novel activation mechanism mediated by cysteine S-nitrosylation in TRP channels. Recombinant TRPC1, TRPC4, TRPC5, TRPV1, TRPV3 and TRPV4 of the TRPC and TRPV families, which are commonly classified as receptor-activated channels and thermosensor ch...