Background and purpose: Transient receptor potential (TRP) V3 is a thermosensitive ion channel expressed predominantly in the skin and neural tissues. It is activated by warmth and the monoterpene camphor and has been hypothesized to be involved in skin sensitization. A selection of monoterpenoid compounds was tested for TRPV3 activation to establish a structure-function relationship. The related channel TRPM8 is activated by cool temperatures and a number of chemicals, among them the monoterpene (-)-menthol. The overlap of the receptor pharmacology between the two channels was investigated. Experimental approach: Transfected HEK293 cells were superfused with the test substances. Evoked currents were measured in whole cell patch clamp measurements. Dose-response curves for the most potent agonists were obtained in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Key results: Six monoterpenes significantly more potent than camphor were identified: 6-tert-butyl-m-cresol, carvacrol, dihydrocarveol, thymol, carveol and ( þ )-borneol. Their EC 50 is up to 16 times lower than that of camphor. All of these compounds carry a ring-located hydroxyl group and neither activates TRPM8 to a major extent. Conclusions and implications: Terpenoids have long been recognized as medically and pharmacologically active compounds, although their molecular targets have only partially been identified. TRPV3 activation may be responsible for several of the described effects of terpenoids. We show here that TRPV3 is activated by a number of monoterpenes and that a secondary hydroxyl-group is a structural requirement.

-Purpose. Transient receptor potential melastatin-8 (TRPM8) is an ion channel expressed extensively in sensory nerves, human prostate and overexpressed in a variety of cancers including prostate, breast, lung, colon and skin melanomas. It is activated by innoxious cooling and chemical stimuli. TRPM8 activation by cooling or chemical agonists is reported to induce profound analgesia in neuropathic pain conditions. Known TRPM8 agonists like menthol and icilin cross-activate other thermo-TRP channels like TRPV3 and TRPA1 and mutually inhibit TRPM8. This limits the usefulness of menthol and icilin as TRPM8 ligands. Consequently, the identification of selective and potent ligands for TRPM8 is of high relevance both in basic research and for therapeutic applications. In the present investigation, a group of menthol derivatives was characterized. These ligands are selective and potent agonists of TRPM8. Interestingly they do not activate other thermo-TRPs like TRPA1, TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV3 and TRPV4. These ion channels are also nociceptors and target of many inflammatory mediators. Methods. Investigations were performed in a recombinant system: Xenopus oocytes microinjected with cRNA of gene of interest were superfused with the test substances after initial responses of known standard agonists. Evoked currents were measured by two-electrode voltage clamp technique. Results. The newly characterized ligands possess an up to six-fold higher potency (EC 50 in low µM) and an up to two-fold increase in efficacy compared to the parent compound menthol. In addition, it is found that chemical derivatives of menthol like CPS-368, CPS-369, CPS-125, WS-5 and WS-12 are the most selective ligands for TRPM8. The enhanced activity and selectivity seems to be conferred by hexacyclic ring structure present in all ligands as substances like WS-23 which lack this functional group activate TRPM8 with much lower potency (EC 50 in mM) and those with pentacyclcic ring structure (furanone compounds) are totally inactive. Conclusion. The new substances activate TRPM8 with a higher potency, efficacy and specificity than menthol and will thus be of importance for the development of pharmacological agents suitable for treatment and diagnosis of certain cancers and as analgesics. ________________________________________________________________________________

Transient receptor potential vanilloid-3 (TRPV3) is a thermo-sensitive ion channel expressed in skin keratinocytes and in a variety of neural cells. It is activated by warmth as well as monoterpenoids including camphor, menthol, dihydrocarveol and 1,8-cineol. TRPV3 is described as a putative nociceptor and previous studies revealed sensitization of the channel during repeated short-term stimulation with different agonists. In the present investigation TRPV3 was transiently expressed in either Xenopus oocytes or HEK293 cells. Whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques were used to characterize the behavior of TRPV3 when challenged with different agonists. Similarly, a human keratinocyte-derived cell line (HaCaT cells) was used to monitor the behavior of native TRPV3 when challenged with different agonists. We report here that prolonged exposure (5-15 minutes) of monoterpenoids results in agonist-specific desensitization of TRPV3. Long-term exposure to camphor and 1,8-cineol elicits desensitizing currents in TRPV3 expressing oocytes, whereas the non-terpenoid agonist 2-APB induces sustained currents. Agonist-specific desensitization of endogenous TRPV3 was also found in HaCaT cells, which may be taken as a representative for the native system. Terpenoids have a long history of use in therapeutics, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics but knowledge about underpinning molecular mechanisms is incomplete. Our finding on agonist-induced desensitization of TRPV3 by some monoterpenoids displays a novel mechanism through which TRP channels could be functionally modulated. Therefore, we conclude that desensitization of TRPV3 channels might be the molecular basis of action for some of the medicinal properties of camphor and 1,8-cineol.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 3 (TRPV3) is a thermosensitive ion channel expressed in a variety of neural cells and in keratinocytes. It is activated by warmth (33–39°C), and its responsiveness is dramatically increased at nociceptive temperatures greater than 40°C. Monoterpenoids and 2-APB are chemical activators of TRPV3 channels. We found that Icilin, a known cooling substance and putative ligand of TRPM8, reversibly inhibits TRPV3 activity at nanomolar concentrations in expression systems like Xenopus laeves oocytes, HEK-293 cells, and in cultured human keratinocytes. Our data show that icilin's antagonistic effects for the warm-sensitive TRPV3 ion channel occurs at very low concentrations. Therefore, the cooling effect evoked by icilin may at least in part be due to TRPV3 inhibition in addition to TRPM8 potentiation. Blockade of TRPV3 activity by icilin at such low concentrations might have important implications for overall cooling sensations detected by keratinocytes and free nerve endings in skin. We hypothesize that blockage of TRPV3 might be a signal for cool-sensing systems (like TRPM8) to beat up the basal activity resulting in increased cold perception when warmth sensors (like TRPV3) are shut off.