Know thy neighbor: a survey of diseases and complex syndromes that map to chromosomal regions encoding TRP channels

Transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 channel regulates diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, and leptin resistance

Insulin resistance is a major characteristic of obesity and type 2 diabetes, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Recent studies have shown a metabolic role of capsaicin that may be mediated via the transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) channel. In this study, TRPV1 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice (as controls) were fed a high-fat diet (HFD), and metabolic studies were performed to measure insulin and leptin action. The TRPV1 KO mice became more obese than the WT mice after HFD, partly attributed to altered energy balance and leptin resistance in the KO mice. The hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp experiment showed that the TRPV1 KO mice were more insulin resistant after HFD because of the ∼40% reduction in glucose metabolism in the white and brown adipose tissue, compared with that in the WT mice. Leptin treatment failed to suppress food intake, and leptin-mediated hypothalamic signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3 activity was blunted in the TRPV1 KO mice. We also found that the TRPV1 KO mice were more obese and insulin resistant than the WT mice at 9 mo of age. Taken together, these results indicate that lacking TRPV1 exacerbates the obesity and insulin resistance associated with an HFD and aging, and our findings further suggest that TRPV1 has a major role in regulating glucose metabolism and hypothalamic leptin's effects in obesity.

Dissecting domain-specific evolutionary pressure profiles of transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily members 1 to 4

The transient receptor potential vanilloid family includes four ion channels–TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV3 and TRPV4–that are represented within the vertebrate subphylum and involved in several sensory and physiological processes. These channels are related to adaptation to the environment, and probably under strong evolutionary pressure. Using multiple sequence alignments as source for evolutionary, bioinformatics and statistical analysis, we have analyzed the evolutionary profiles for TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV3 and TRPV4. The evolutionary pressure exerted over vertebrate TRPV2 sequences compared to the other channels argues for a positive selection profile for TRPV2 compared to TRPV1, TRPV3 and TRPV4. We have analyzed the selective pressure on specific protein domains, observing a common selective pressure trend for the common TRPV scaffold, consisting of the ankyrin repeat domain, the membrane proximal domain, the transmembrane domain, and the TRP domain. Through a more detailed analysis we have identified evolutionary constraints involved in the subunit contact at the transmembrane domain level. Performing evolutionary comparison, we have translated specific channel structural information such as the transmembrane topology, and the interaction between the membrane proximal domain and the TRP box. We have also identified potential common regulatory domains among all TRPV1-4 members, such as protein-protein, lipid-protein and vesicle trafficking domains.

TRPM3

Like most other members of the TRP family, the Trpm3 gene encodes proteins that form cation-permeable ion channels on the plasma membrane. However, TRPM3 proteins have several unique features that set them apart from the other members of this diverse family. The Trpm3 gene encodes for a surprisingly large number of isoforms generated mainly by alternative splicing. Only for two of the (at least) eight sites at which sequence diversity is generated the functional consequences have been elucidated, one leading to nonfunctional channels, the other one profoundly affecting the ionic selectivity. In the Trpm3 gene an intronic microRNA (miR-204) is co-transcribed with Trpm3. By regulating the expression of a multitude of genes, miR-204 increases the functional complexity of the Trpm3 locus. Over the past years, important progress has been made in discovering pharmacological tools to manipulate TRPM3 channel activity. These substances have facilitated the identification of endogenously expressed functional TRPM3 channels in nociceptive neurons, pancreatic beta cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells, among others. TRPM3 channels, which themselves are temperature sensitive, thus have been implicated in sensing noxious heat, in modulating insulin release, and in secretion of inflammatory cytokines. However, in many tissues where TRPM3 proteins are known to be expressed, no functional role has been identified for these channels so far. Because of the availability of adequate pharmacological and genetic tools, it is expected that future investigations on TRPM3 channels will unravel important new aspects and functions of these channels.

TRPs: truly remarkable proteins

The family of transient receptor potential cation channels has received in the last 10 years a tremendous interest because members of this family are involved in a plethora of cell functions and have been identified as causal for many hereditary and acquired diseases. We shortly introduce these channels, summarize nomenclature and chromosomal location of the 28 mammalian Trp genes, and list the available Trp-deficient mouse lines.

Regulators of Ca(2+) signaling in mast cells: potential targets for treatment of mast cell-related diseases?

A calcium signal is essential for degranulation, generation of eicosanoids and optimal production of cytokines in mast cells in response to antigen and other stimulants. The signal is initiated by phospholipase C-mediated production of inositol1,4,5-trisphosphate resulting in release of stored Ca(2+) from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi. Depletion of these stores activates influx of extracellular Ca(2+), usually referred to as store-operated calcium entry (SOCE), through the interaction of the Ca(2+)-sensor, stromal interacting molecule-1 (STIM1 ), in ER with Orai1(CRACM1) and transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channel proteins in the plasma membrane (PM). This interaction is enabled by microtubular-directed reorganization of ER to form ER/PM contact points or "punctae" in which STIM1 and channel proteins colocalize. The ensuing influx of Ca(2+) replenishes Ca(2+) stores and sustains elevated levels of cytosolic Ca(2+) ions-the obligatory signal for mast-cell activation. In addition, the signal can acquire spatial and dynamic characteristics (e.g., calcium puffs, waves, oscillations) that encode signals for specific functional outputs. This is achieved by coordinated regulation of Ca(2+) fluxes through ATP-dependent Ca(2+)-pumps and ion exchangers in mitochondria, ER and PM. As discussed in this chapter, studies in mast cells revealed much about the mechanisms described above but little about allergic and autoimmune diseases although studies in other types of cells have exposed genetic defects that lead to aberrant calcium signaling in immune diseases. Pharmacologic agents that inhibit or activate the regulatory components of calcium signaling in mast cells are also discussed along with the prospects for development of novel SOCE inhibitors that may prove beneficial in the treatment inflammatory mast-cell related diseases.

TRP channels and their implications in metabolic diseases

The transient receptor potential (TRP) channel superfamily is composed of 28 nonselective cation channels that are ubiquitously expressed in many cell types and have considerable functional diversity. Although changes in TRP channel expression and function have been reported in cardiovascular disease and renal disorders, the pathogenic roles of TRP channels in metabolic diseases have not been systemically reviewed. In this review, we summarised the distribution of TRP channels in several metabolic tissues and discussed their roles in mediating and regulating various physiological and pathophysiological metabolic processes and diseases including diabetes, obesity, dyslipidaemia, metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, metabolic bone diseases and electrolyte disturbances. This review provides new insight into the involvement of TRP channels in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders and implicates these channels as potential therapeutic targets for the management of metabolic diseases.

Disruption of transient receptor potential canonical channel 1 causes incomplete cytokinesis and slows the growth of human malignant gliomas

Despite decades of research, primary brain tumors, gliomas, lack effective treatment options and present a huge clinical challenge. Particularly, the most malignant subtype, Glioblastoma multiforme, proliferates extensively and cells often undergo incomplete cell divisions, resulting in multinucleated cells. We now present evidence that multinucleated glioma cells result from the functional loss of transient receptor potential canonical 1 (TRPC1) channels, plasma membrane proteins involved in agonist-induced calcium entry and reloading of intracellular Ca(2+) stores. Pharmacological inhibition or shRNA mediated suppression of TRPC1 causes loss of functional channels and store-operated calcium entry in D54MG glioma cells. This is associated with reduced cell proliferation and, frequently, with incomplete cell division. The resulting multinucleated cells are reminiscent of those found in patient biopsies. In a flank tumor model, tumor size was significantly decreased when TRPC1 expression was disrupted using a doxycycline inducible shRNA knockdown approach. These results suggest that TRPC1 channels play an important role in glioma cell division most likely by regulating calcium signaling during cytokinesis.

Transient receptor potential channelopathies

In the past years, several hereditary diseases caused by defects in transient receptor potential channels (TRP) genes have been described. This review summarizes our current knowledge about TRP channelopathies and their possible pathomechanisms. Based on available genetic indications, we will also describe several putative pathological conditions in which (mal)function of TRP channels could be anticipated.

Physiology and pathophysiology of canonical transient receptor potential channels

The existence of a mammalian family of TRPC ion channels, direct homologues of TRP, the visual transduction channel of flies, was discovered during 1995-1996 as a consequence of research into the mechanism by which the stimulation of the receptor-Gq-phospholipase Cbeta signaling pathway leads to sustained increases in intracellular calcium. Mammalian TRPs, TRPCs, turned out to be nonselective, calcium-permeable cation channels, which cause both a collapse of the cell's membrane potential and entry of calcium. The family comprises 7 members and is widely expressed. Many cells and tissues express between 3 and 4 of the 7 TRPCs. Despite their recent discovery, a wealth of information has accumulated, showing that TRPCs have widespread roles in almost all cells studied, including cells from excitable and nonexcitable tissues, such as the nervous and cardiovascular systems, the kidney and the liver, and cells from endothelia, epithelia, and the bone marrow compartment. Disruption of TRPC function is at the root of some familial diseases. More often, TRPCs are contributing risk factors in complex diseases. The present article reviews what has been uncovered about physiological roles of mammalian TRPC channels since the time of their discovery. This analysis reveals TRPCs as major and unsuspected gates of Ca(2+) entry that contribute, depending on context, to activation of transcription factors, apoptosis, vascular contractility, platelet activation, and cardiac hypertrophy, as well as to normal and abnormal cell proliferation. TRPCs emerge as targets for a thus far nonexistent field of pharmacological intervention that may ameliorate complex diseases.