TRP Channels in Cardiovascular and Inflammatory Disease

Dear Colleagues,

The transient receptor potential (TRP) family of receptor channels are an exceptional family of receptors that respond to a wide range of cellular and environmental stimuli to influence many biological responses.

In mammals, the TRP channels fit into 28 different proteins, which can be divided into seven subfamilies based on amino acid sequence homology (TRPA–Ankyrin, TRPC–Canonical, TRPM–Melastatin, TRPML–Mucolipin, TRPN–NO-mechano-potential, NOMP, TRPP–Polycystin, TRPV–Vanilloid), of which some have been proposed as sensing a variety of stimuli, including pressure, shear stress, mechanical stretch, oxidative stress, lipid environment alterations, hypertrophic signals, or inflammation products.

The TRP family was first discovered in 1969, followed by the first characterization and cloning of the nociceptive TRP channel (vanilloid receptor TRPV1) in mammalian neurons in 1997. Since then, much knowledge of the various families of TRP ion channels has emerged over the last 25 years; related to their role as a transducer of nociceptive signals and a regulator of cardiovascular functions, as well as in inflammatory disease.

Mechanistically, TRP activation has been associated with the regulation of calcium homeostasis, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, which can be translated to humans and related species in terms of mediating components of a range of cardiovascular and inflammatory conditions, especially those involving the sensation of pain (of which TRPV1 and TRPA1 are primarily involved) or thermal sensations (of which TRPV1, TRPA1 and TRPM8 are primarily involved) and in sensing metabolic influences, to which all channels are capable of contributing. Mechanistically, much still remains to be determined, with research into some areas and diseases still at an early stage. With this in mind, this Special Issue has been designed to bring cutting-edge research to the table for side-by-side comparisons.

The ultimate objective is that the mechanistic studies will lead to new drugs to treat TRP-mediated conditions. Whilst some historic vegetable-derived compounds that influence the TRP channels have been used therapeutically for many years (the chilli extract capsaicin, a TRPV1 agonist that depletes sensory nerves leading to analgesia, is best known), others, such as the development of feasible TRP antagonists for use as selective therapeutics with minimal side effects, have been elusive to date. Whilst some effective antagonists have been created (e.g., for the TRPV1 receptor), others (e.g., the TRPA1 receptor) have been associated with less efficacious effects. Additionally, the breadth of activation mechanisms has led to troublesome side effects with some antagonists  (e.g., TRPV1) that have been difficult to limit.

This Special Issue enables us to invite manuscripts associated with TRP channels, to build on knowledge of biological functions of TRP and novel potential therapeutic interventions (drug discovery) for cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. This can be either via a review or original research.  Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Design of novel TRP ligands and evidence of functional relevance;
• Role of TRP channels in biological functions;
• Mechanistic studies on TRP channels;
• Role of TRP channels in cardiovascular disease and inflammation;
• Development and testing of novel therapeutic agents.

Prof. Dr. Susan D. Brain
Dr. Soraia Katia Pereira Costa
Guest Editors

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