TRPV1

TRPV1, transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily 1, alias VR1. It is a ligand-gated nonselective cation channel belonging to the transient receptor potential channel family. TRPV1 is predominantly distributed in the nervous system, especially in injury-receptive neurons, but also widely distributed in non-neuronal cells such as mast cells, bladder epithelial cells, and monocytes. Its mechanism of action involves responses to a variety of physical and chemical stimuli such as heat (>43°C), protons (pH<6.0), mechanical forces, osmotic pressure, and endogenous and exogenous ligands (e.g., capsaicin).
TRPV1 mediates itch and pain responses and is involved in disease processes in diabetes, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, digestive system, and dermatological system.TRPV1 expression is up-regulated in tumor cells and can inhibit tumor cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and thus has potential therapeutic effects in anti-cancer research.
Currently, TRPV1 has become an important target for drug discovery, and new drugs targeting TRPV1 have been developed to ameliorate diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer.