Abstract
Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are a superfamily of cation transmembrane proteins that are expressed in many tissues and respond to many sensory stimuli. TRP channels play a role in sensory signaling for taste, thermosensation, mechanosensation, and nociception. Activation of TRP channels (e.g., TRPM5) in taste receptors by food/chemicals (e.g., capsaicin) is essential in the acquisition of nutrients, which fuel metabolism, growth, and development. Pain signals from these nociceptors are essential for harm avoidance. Dysfunctional TRP channels have been associated with neuropathic pain, inflammation, and reduced ability to detect taste stimuli. Humans have long recognized the relationship between taste and pain. However, the mechanisms and relationship among these taste–pain sensorial experiences are not fully understood. This article provides a narrative review of literature examining the role of TRP channels on taste and pain perception. Genomic variability in the TRPV1 gene has been associated with alterations in various pain conditions. Moreover, polymorphisms of the TRPV1 gene have been associated with alterations in salty taste sensitivity and salt preference. Studies of genetic variations in TRP genes or modulation of TRP pathways may increase our understanding of the shared biological mediators of pain and taste, leading to therapeutic interventions to treat many diseases.
Highlights
Human hunters and gatherers depended on their ability to distinguish nutritious food from harmful food to avert danger
transient receptor potential (TRP) channels (e.g., transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM), and TRPV) are located in nerve terminals, dorsal root ganglion, and taste buds, where they play an essential role in pain perception and taste sensation [6,10,15]
Genetic variations of genes coding for TRPs have been associated with changes in taste and pain sensitivity
Summary
Identified in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, TRP channels have been shown to be differentially expressed in the plasma and intracellular membranes of many cells. The seven TRP subfamilies (consisting of one to eight members) that have been identified include canonical (TRPC), vanilloid (TRPV), ankyrin (TRPA), melastatin (TRPM), mucolipin (TRPML), polycystin (TRPP), and non-mechanoreceptor (TRPN). As it relates to this review, members of TRPV, TRPA, TRPC, and TRPM have been determined to be relevant in pain and taste perception (Figure 1A). Mammalian TRPA1 channels are permeable to Ca2+ and respond to both electrophilic and non-electrophilic compounds and are expressed in many tissues, including unmyelinated and myelinated C- and Aδ-fibers, lungs, skin, bladder, prostate, pancreas, inner ear, and airway epithelial cells [2] In most of these tissues, Ca2+ (and downstream PLC and PIP2) are involved in both the potentiation and desensitization of TRPA1 activity [2,38]. Alterations in TRPM channel activity have been associated with inflammatory pain, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and impaired taste transduction [10,22,41]
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