Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Channels in Pain, Neuropsychiatric Disorders, and Epilepsy

Abstract

Pharmacomodulation of membrane channels is an essential topic in the study of physiological conditions and disease status. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are one such family of nonselective cation channels that have an important influence. In mammals, TRP channels consist of seven subfamilies with a total of twenty-eight members. Evidence shows that TRP channels mediate cation transduction in neuronal signaling, but the full implication and potential therapeutic applications of this are not entirely clear. In this review, we aim to highlight several TRP channels which have been shown to mediate pain sensation, neuropsychiatric disorders, and epilepsy. Recent findings suggest that TRPM (melastatin), TRPV (vanilloid), and TRPC (canonical) are of particular relevance to these phenomena. The research reviewed in this paper validates these TRP channels as potential targets of future clinical treatment and offers patients hope for more effective care.