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Role of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 in inflammation and sepsis

Authors Devesa, Planells-Cases, Fernández-Ballester GJ, Gonzalez-Ros, Fernández-Carvajal A, Ferrer-Montiel A

Published 24 May 2011 Volume 2011:4 Pages 67—81

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S12978

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 5



Isabel Devesa1, Rosa Planells-Cases2, Gregorio Fernández-Ballester1, José Manuel González-Ros1, Antonio Ferrer-Montiel1, Asia Fernández-Carvajal1
1Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante; 2Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, Spain

Abstract: The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a thermoreceptor that responds to noxious temperatures, as well as to chemical agonists, such as vanilloids and protons. In addition, its channel activity is notably potentiated by proinflammatory mediators released upon tissue damage. The TRPV1 contribution to sensory neuron sensitization by proalgesic agents has signaled this receptor as a prime target for analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug intervention. However, TRPV1 antagonists have notably failed in clinical and preclinical studies because of their unwanted side effects. Recent reports have unveiled previously unrecognized anti-inflammatory and protective functions of TRPV1 in several diseases. For instance, this channel has been suggested to play an anti-inflammatory role in sepsis. Therefore, the use of potent TRPV1 antagonists as a general strategy to treat inflammation must be cautiously considered, given the deleterious effects that may arise from inhibiting the population of channels that have a protective function. The use of TRPV1 antagonists may be limited to treating those pathologies where enhanced receptor activity contributes to the inflamed state. Alternatively, therapeutic paradigms, such as reduction of inflammatory-mediated increase of receptor expression in the cell surface, may be a better strategy to prevent abrogation of the TRPV1 subpopulation involved in anti-inflammatory and protective processes.

Keywords: transient receptor potential, nociceptor, capsaicin, pain, ion channel, analgesia

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