Mini-review: The nociceptive sensory functions of the polymodal receptor Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin Type 1 (TRPA1)

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 764; p. 136286
• Main Authors: Manolache, Alexandra, Babes, Alexandru, Madalina Babes, Ramona
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.11.2021
• Subjects: Animals; Chronic Pain - pathology; Cold Temperature - adverse effects; Humans; Mechanotransduction, Cellular - physiology; Nociception - physiology; Oxidation-Reduction; Skin - metabolism; TRPA1 Cation Channel - metabolism
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136286

•TRPA1 is a polymodal receptor involved in acute nociceptive signalling and also in chronic pain.•TRPA1 is a major chemo-sensor, activated by a plethora of both endogenous and exogenous compounds.•TRPA1 plays a substantial role in sensing the redox state of the cell.•TRPA1 is also a key temperature sensor, involved in detecting harmful cold stimuli.•Finally, recent evidence supports a role of TRPA1 in cutaneous and visceral mechano-sensing. Over the last 17 years since its cloning in 2003, the receptor-channel TRPA1 has received increasing attention due to its polymodal features and prominent role in pain signaling in a variety of human disease states. While evidence has been accumulating for non-neuronal TRPA1 expression, it is the presence of this channel in nociceptive nerve endings which has taken centre stage, due to its potential clinical ramifications. As a consequence, we shall focus in this review on the sensory functions of TRPA1 related to its expression in the peripheral nervous system. While substantial research has been focused on the putative role of TRPA1 in detecting irritant compounds, noxious cold and mechanical stimuli, the current overall picture is, to some extent, still cloudy. The chemosensory function of the channel is well demonstrated, as well as its involvement in the detection of oxidative and nitrosative stress; however, the other sensory features of TRPA1 have not been fully elucidated yet. The current state of the experimental evidence for these physiological roles of TRPA1 in mammals, and particularly in humans, will be discussed in this review.