Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels represent an extended family of 28 members fulfilling multiple functions in the living organism. They are widely distributed in the body, including a subset of primary afferent neurons in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and trigeminal ganglia (TG), which innervate cold highly sensitive tissues, such as skin, oral cavity epithelium, teeth, tongue, and cornea. TRP channels are also expressed in visceral tissues innervated by pelvic or vagal nerves, several tumor cells, macrophages, and different regions in the brain. Over the last few years, new findings on TRP channels reveal an exceptionally broad spectrum as cellular sensors and effectors. In fact, these polymodal, nonselective cation channels (mainly Ca2+) play critical roles as cellular sensors, including contributions to vision, taste, olfaction, hearing, touch, and thermo-, chemo- and osmo-sensation. Furthermore, TRP channels are also important since some of them are involved in the pathophysiology of human diseases.
Recent years have registered an increased interest in research into the connection between TRP channels and cancer, leading to the discovery of tumor-related functions such as regulation of proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, migration, and invasion during cancer progression. Among the TRP families, most of them are mainly involved in malignant growth and progression. Depending on the type and stage of cancer, regulation of TRPs expression and activity causes ion-dependent cell proliferation and resistance of cancer cells to apoptotic-induced cell death with consequent cancer-promoting effects and resistance to chemotherapy treatments. Along these lines, selective pharmacological TRP ligands to counter the progression of different cancer, characterized by unsatisfactory therapies and low overall survival, were identified in the last years, and are now being tested in vitro and in vivo.
This Research Topic will feature a collection of original articles or reviews summarizing the current state of the art on TRP channel research, their physiological and pathophysiological function, and their roles as pharmacological targets for future therapeutic options in cancer. Moreover, we welcome prospective contributions proposing new TRP channel modulators that will describe promising results in the fight against cancer disease.
Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels represent an extended family of 28 members fulfilling multiple functions in the living organism. They are widely distributed in the body, including a subset of primary afferent neurons in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and trigeminal ganglia (TG), which innervate cold highly sensitive tissues, such as skin, oral cavity epithelium, teeth, tongue, and cornea. TRP channels are also expressed in visceral tissues innervated by pelvic or vagal nerves, several tumor cells, macrophages, and different regions in the brain. Over the last few years, new findings on TRP channels reveal an exceptionally broad spectrum as cellular sensors and effectors. In fact, these polymodal, nonselective cation channels (mainly Ca2+) play critical roles as cellular sensors, including contributions to vision, taste, olfaction, hearing, touch, and thermo-, chemo- and osmo-sensation. Furthermore, TRP channels are also important since some of them are involved in the pathophysiology of human diseases.
Recent years have registered an increased interest in research into the connection between TRP channels and cancer, leading to the discovery of tumor-related functions such as regulation of proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, migration, and invasion during cancer progression. Among the TRP families, most of them are mainly involved in malignant growth and progression. Depending on the type and stage of cancer, regulation of TRPs expression and activity causes ion-dependent cell proliferation and resistance of cancer cells to apoptotic-induced cell death with consequent cancer-promoting effects and resistance to chemotherapy treatments. Along these lines, selective pharmacological TRP ligands to counter the progression of different cancer, characterized by unsatisfactory therapies and low overall survival, were identified in the last years, and are now being tested in vitro and in vivo.
This Research Topic will feature a collection of original articles or reviews summarizing the current state of the art on TRP channel research, their physiological and pathophysiological function, and their roles as pharmacological targets for future therapeutic options in cancer. Moreover, we welcome prospective contributions proposing new TRP channel modulators that will describe promising results in the fight against cancer disease.
