This study identifies the TRPA1 receptor as a promiscuous receptor, activated by a wide range of stimuli, making it a perfect target for triggering cough and as such one of the most promising targets currently identified for the development of antitussive drugs.

BackgroundCough is the most frequent reason for consultation with a family doctor, or with a general or respiratory physician. Treatment options are limited and a recent meta-analysis concluded that over-the-counter remedies are ineffective and there is increasing concern about their use in children. Endogenous inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and bradykinin (BK), which are often elevated in respiratory disease states, are also known to cause cough by stimulating airway sensory nerves. However, how this occurs is not understood.MethodsWe hypothesised that the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, TRPA1 and TRPV1, may have a role as ‘common effectors’ of tussive responses to these agents. We have employed a range of in vitro imaging and isolated tissue assays in human, murine and guinea pig tissue and an in vivo cough model to support this hypothesis.ResultsUsing calcium imaging we demonstrated that PGE2 and BK activated isolated guinea pig sensory ganglia and evoked depolarisation (activation) of vagal sensory nerves, which was inhibited by TRPA1 and TRPV1 blockers (JNJ17203212 and HC-030031). These data were confirmed in vagal sensory nerves from TRPA1 and TRPV1 gene deleted mice. TRPV1 and TRPA1 blockers partially inhibited the tussive response to PGE2 and BK with a complete inhibition obtained in the presence of both antagonists together in a guinea pig conscious cough model.ConclusionThis study identifies TRPA1 and TRPV1 channels as key regulators of tussive responses elicited by endogenous and exogenous agents, making them the most promising targets currently identified in the development of anti-tussive drugs.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Patients with cholestatic disease have increased systemic concentrations of bile acids (BAs) and profound pruritus. The G-protein–coupled BA receptor 1 TGR5 (encoded by GPBAR1) is expressed by primary sensory neurons; its activation induces neuronal hyperexcitability and scratching by unknown mechanisms. We investigated whether the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is involved in BA-evoked, TGR5-dependent pruritus in mice. METHODS Co-expression of TGR5 and TRPA1 in cutaneous afferent neurons isolated from mice was analyzed by immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, and single-cell polymerase chain reaction. TGR5-induced activation of TRPA1 was studied in in HEK293 cells, Xenopus laevis oocytes, and primary sensory neurons by measuring Ca2+ signals. The contribution of TRPA1 to TGR5-induced release of pruritogenic neuropeptides, activation of spinal neurons, and scratching behavior were studied using TRPA1 antagonists or Trpa1−/− mice. RESULTS TGR5 and TRPA1 protein and messenger RNA were expressed by cutaneous afferent neurons. In HEK cells, oocytes, and neurons co-expressing TGR5 and TRPA1, BAs caused TGR5-dependent activation and sensitization of TRPA1 by mechanisms that required Gβγ, protein kinase C, and Ca2+. Antagonists or deletion of TRPA1 prevented BA-stimulated release of the pruritogenic neuropeptides gastrin-releasing peptide and atrial natriuretic peptide B in the spinal cord. Disruption of Trpa1 in mice blocked BA-induced expression of Fos in spinal neurons and prevented BA-stimulated scratching. Spontaneous scratching was exacerbated in transgenic mice that overexpressed TRG5. Administration of a TRPA1 antagonist or the BA sequestrant colestipol, which lowered circulating levels of BAs, prevented exacerbated spontaneous scratching in TGR5 overexpressing mice. CONCLUSIONS BAs induce pruritus in mice by co-activation of TGR5 and TRPA1. Antagonists of TGR5 and TRPA1, or inhibitors of the signaling mechanism by which TGR5 activates TRPA1, might be developed for treatment of cholestatic pruritus.

Over the last few decades, there has been an explosion of scientific publications reporting the many and varied roles of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels in physiological and pathological systems throughout the body. The aim of this review is to summarize the existing literature on the role of TRP channels in the lungs and discuss what is known about their function under normal and diseased conditions. The review will focus mainly on the pathogenesis and symptoms of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the role of four members of the TRP family: TRPA1, TRPV1, TRPV4 and TRPM8. We hope that the article will help the reader understand the role of TRP channels in the normal airway and how their function may be changed in the context of respiratory disease. LINKED ARTICLESThis article is part of a themed section on the pharmacology of TRP channels. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2014.171.issue-10 Abbreviation 4αPDD, 4α-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate; AHR, airway hyper-responsiveness; CGRP, calcitonin gene-related peptide; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; DRG, dorsal root ganglia; HASM, human airway smooth muscle; LAR, late asthmatic response: OTC, over-the-counter; PAR, protease-activated receptors; SNP, single nucleotide polymorphism; TRP, transient receptor potential Introduction to transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channelsTRP channels were discovered in the eye of the Drosophila melanogaster fly, and named for their transient response to bright light (Montell and Rubin, 1989). Several homologues have since been identified that have a well conserved 'TRP domain' consisting of 23-25 amino acids. There are 28 mammalian TRP subunits, categorized in to six related protein subfamilies, based on sequence homology (Clapham, 2003). TRP ion channels are widely expressed throughout the body, and can respond to a remarkable diversity of intracellular and extracellular stimuli. This capacity to be activated by seemingly disparate mechanisms has led to the perception of TRP channels as multiple signal integrators. The TRP channel superfamily comprises a group of cation-selective proteins, which display a general preference for calcium ions. TRPs exhibit six transmembrane-spanning domains with the channel pore located between transmembrane domains 5 and 6, intracellular C and N termini, and varying degrees of ankyrin repeats (Caterina et al., 1997;Ramsey et al., 2006). Current evidence suggests that active TRP channels are formed by four subunits, and could assemble as homo-or hetero-tetramers (Latorre et al., 2009). For more in-depth information on TRP channels, we suggest consulting some of the excellent reviews including Clapham, 2003;Nilius et al. 2005;Bessac & Jordt, 2008;Preti et al. 2012. Aim of the reviewThe aim of this review is to describe the TRP channels, which have been explored in more depth regarding their role in physiological and pathological mechanisms in the airways (TRPA1, TRPV1, TRPV4 and TRPM8; receptor nomenclature ...

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Prolonged sitting contributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The underlying mechanisms are unknown, but may include changes in arterial function and vasoactive mediators. We examined the effects of prolonged unbroken sitting, relative to regular active interruptions to sitting time, on arterial function in adults at increased CVD risk. In a randomized crossover trial, 19 sedentary overweight/obese adults (mean±SD 57±12 yrs), completed two laboratory-based conditions: five hours uninterrupted sitting (SIT) and; five hours sitting interrupted every 30 minutes by three minutes of simple resistance activities (SRA). Femoral artery function (flow mediated dilation; FMD), blood flow and shear rate were measured at zero hour, 30 minutes, one, two and five hours. Brachial FMD was assessed at zero and five hours. Plasma was collected hourly for measurement of endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitrates/nitrites, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). There was a significant decline in femoral artery FMD, averaged over five hours in the SIT condition, relative to SRA (p<0.001). Plasma ET-1 total AUC over five hours increased in the SIT condition compared to SRA (p=0.006). There was no significant difference between conditions in femoral or brachial shear rate, brachial FMD, nitrates/nitrites, VCAM-1 or ICAM-1 (p>0.05 for all). Five hours of prolonged sitting, relative to regular interruptions to sitting time, impaired femoral artery vasodilator function and increased circulating ET-1 in overweight/obese adults. There is the need to build on this evidence beyond acute observations to better understand the potential longer-term vascular-related consequences of prolonged sitting.

Cognitive decline leading to dementia represents a global health burden. In the absence of targeted pharmacotherapy, lifestyle approaches remain the best option for slowing the onset of dementia. However, older adults spend very little time doing moderate to vigorous exercise and spend a majority of time in sedentary behavior. Sedentary behavior has been linked to poor glycemic control and increased risk of all-cause mortality. Here, we explore a potential link between sedentary behavior and brain health. We highlight the role of glycemic control in maintaining brain function and suggest that reducing and replacing sedentary behavior with intermittent light-intensity physical activity may protect against cognitive decline by reducing glycemic variability. Given that older adults find it difficult to achieve current exercise recommendations, this may be an additional practical strategy. However, more research is needed to understand the impact of poor glycemic control on brain function and whether practical interventions aimed at reducing and replacing sedentary behavior with intermittent light intensity physical activity can help slow cognitive decline.

BackgroundSensory nerves innervating the airways play an important role in regulating various cardiopulmonary functions, maintaining homeostasis under healthy conditions and contributing to pathophysiology in disease states. Hypo-osmotic solutions elicit sensory reflexes, including cough, and are a potent stimulus for airway narrowing in asthmatic patients, but the mechanisms involved are not known. Transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 4 (TRPV4) is widely expressed in the respiratory tract, but its role as a peripheral nociceptor has not been explored.ObjectiveWe hypothesized that TRPV4 is expressed on airway afferents and is a key osmosensor initiating reflex events in the lung.MethodsWe used guinea pig primary cells, tissue bioassay, in vivo electrophysiology, and a guinea pig conscious cough model to investigate a role for TRPV4 in mediating sensory nerve activation in vagal afferents and the possible downstream signaling mechanisms. Human vagus nerve was used to confirm key observations in animal tissues.ResultsHere we show TRPV4-induced activation of guinea pig airway–specific primary nodose ganglion cells. TRPV4 ligands and hypo-osmotic solutions caused depolarization of murine, guinea pig, and human vagus and firing of Aδ-fibers (not C-fibers), which was inhibited by TRPV4 and P2X3 receptor antagonists. Both antagonists blocked TRPV4-induced cough.ConclusionThis study identifies the TRPV4-ATP-P2X3 interaction as a key osmosensing pathway involved in airway sensory nerve reflexes. The absence of TRPV4-ATP–mediated effects on C-fibers indicates a distinct neurobiology for this ion channel and implicates TRPV4 as a novel therapeutic target for neuronal hyperresponsiveness in the airways and symptoms, such as cough.