Cold sensitivity of recombinant TRPA1 channels

Y Sawada, H Hosokawa, A Hori, K Matsumura… - Brain research, 2007 - Elsevier
Y Sawada, H Hosokawa, A Hori, K Matsumura, S Kobayashi
Brain research, 2007Elsevier
TRPM8 and TRPA1, members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel family, are
candidates for cooling-activated receptors. It is accepted that TRPM8 responds to moderate
cooling, although it is controversial whether TRPA1 responds to deep cooling. Here, using
Ca2+ imaging and/or patch-clamp recordings, we examined the thermal sensitivity of
primary cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and mouse TRPA1-expressing human
embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. In a subset of cultured mouse DRG neurons, deep …
TRPM8 and TRPA1, members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel family, are candidates for cooling-activated receptors. It is accepted that TRPM8 responds to moderate cooling, although it is controversial whether TRPA1 responds to deep cooling. Here, using Ca2+ imaging and/or patch-clamp recordings, we examined the thermal sensitivity of primary cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and mouse TRPA1-expressing human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. In a subset of cultured mouse DRG neurons, deep cooling (5–18 °C) and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC, agonist of TRPA1) induced increases in intracellular Ca2+ level. Most AITC-sensitive (TRPA1-expressing) neurons responded to deep cooling. In TRPA1-expressing HEK293 cells, deep cooling and AITC-induced Ca2+ responses and whole-cell currents. In inside-out patches excised from TRPA1-expressing HEK293 cells, deep cooling, and AITC activated the same channels, which were inhibited by camphor (antagonist for TRPA1). When temperature was decreased below 18 °C, unit conductance of the channel decreased but open probability of it increased. Deep cooling-induced increase of the open probability of TRPA1 may underlie the increase in whole-cell currents induced by deep cooling. It is concluded that TRPA1 is a deep cooling-activated channel, which supports the previous findings that TRPA1 responds to deep cooling.
Elsevier