TRPV1 and thermosensitivity.

Abstract

The capsaicin receptor TRPV1 was identified as the first heat-activated ion channel in 1997. Since then, numerous studies have been performed on its physiological functions and structure-function relationship, and chemicals targeting TRPV1 have been developed. It has been more than 27 years since the initial cloning of the TRPV1 gene and more than 11 years since the clarification of its structure at the atomic level using cryo-EM. However, we still lack good chemical antagonists of TRPV1 as medicines. TRPV1 is involved in body temperature regulation, but how TRPV1 antagonists cause hyperthermia and how TRPV1 is involved in body temperature regulation are not yet clearly understood. More research is needed in the thermal biology field.