TRP通道在生物体对机械性刺激响应中的功能及作用机制

TRP超家族离子通道在多种感觉传导,特别是听觉、触觉、机械性痛等机械性感觉过程中起着重要的作用。一些主要的离子通道性疾病,如失聪、慢性痛、ADPKD和心室肥大等的病因与TRP通道功能异常相关1,2]。TRP通道是机械敏感通道的热门候选者,有些TRP通道,如C.elegans中TRPN亚型通道TRP-4,能够作用受体直接被机械力激活;而有些TRP通道则可能起着信号调节器的作用,间接地接收和放大信号3]。文中介绍了TRP通道在机械性感觉传导中的功能,并讨论了其潜在的分子机制。

Molecular mechanisms of TRP channels in mechano-sensory transduction

Channels from the TRP superfamily have essential roles in a wide variety of sensory transductions, especially in mechano-sensation, such as hearing, touch and mechanical pain. TRP channels are also implicated in major channelopathies, including deafness, chronic pain, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and ventricular hypertrophy. As the leading candidates for mechano-sensitive channels, some TRP channels appear to be mechano-receptor, which can be activated by mechanical forces directly, such as C. elegans TRPN homolog TRP-4; whereas others may act as signal modulators, receiving and amplifying signals indirectly. This review is to introduce the function of TRPs in mechano-sensory transduction and to discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms.