Work

Warm Temperature-sensitive Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) Plays an Essential Role in Thermal Hyperalgesia

Year: 2004

Type: article

Abstract: Animals sense various ranges of temperatures by cutaneous thermal stimuli. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is a cation channel activated at a warm temperature (over 30 degrees C) in exogenously expressed cells. We found in the present study that TRPV4 is essential in thermal hyperalgesia at a warm temperature in vivo. TRPV4-/- and TRPV4+/+ mice exhibited the same latency of escape from 35-50 degrees C hotplates. Neuronal activity in the femoral nerve, however, revealed that the number and activity level of neurons decreased in response to a warm temperature in TRPV4-/- mice. TRPV4-/- mice displayed a significantly longer latency to escape from the plates at 35- 45 degrees C when hyperalgesia was induced by carrageenan without changes in foot volumes. TRPV4 therefore determines the sensitivity rather than the threshold of painful heat detection and plays an essential role in thermal hyperalgesia.

Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry

DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m406260200

Authors: Hiroshi Todaka, Junichi Taniguchi, Jun-ichi Satoh, Atsuko Mizuno, Makoto Suzuki

Institution: Jichi Medical University

Language: English

Topic: Ion Channels and Receptors

Subfield: Sensory Systems

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,430