Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience (Feb 2015)
TRP channels in microglia: role in physiology and disease
Abstract
Microglia are responsible for modulating the cellular environment in the nervous system, where they have neuroprotective effects. In these cells has been reported the expression of different ion channels, including those belonging to the transient receptor potential (TRP) family. TRP are nonselective cation channels that have six transmembrane domains and both N-terminus and C-terminus domain located in the cytoplasm. These proteins can be activated by mechanical, thermal and chemical stimuli as well as pH changes. Their activation can induce calcium influx contributing to regulate the intracellular calcium concentration. Different studies describe the effect of TRP channels in cellular processes such as osmotic regulation, cytokine production, proliferation, activation, cell death and responses to oxidative stress. As a result, these channels have an important role in neurodegenerative diseases, ischemia, inflammatory responses and pain perception. Modulating the activity of the TRP channels can be a therapeutic target for various diseases associated with the central nervous system. In this review the most relevant aspects about the role of the TRP channels in the physiology of microglia and their potential use as a therapeutic target in central nervous system diseases will be described.
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