Taste the Pain: The Role of TRP Channels in Pain and Taste Perception

Roles of TRPM channels in glioma

Gliomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor. Despite advances in treatment, it remains one of the most aggressive and deadly tumor of the central nervous system (CNS). Gliomas are characterized by high malignancy, heterogeneity, invasiveness, and high resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It is urgent to find potential new molecular targets for glioma. The TRPM channels consist of TRPM1-TPRM8 and play a role in many cellular functions, including proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, etc. More and more studies have shown that TRPM channels can be used as new therapeutic targets for glioma. In this review, we first introduce the structure, activation patterns, and physiological functions of TRPM channels. Additionally, the pathological mechanism of glioma mediated by TRPM2, 3, 7, and 8 and the related signaling pathways are described. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting TRPM for glioma.

Determination of twelve neonicotinoid pesticides in chili using an improved QuEChERS method with UPLC-Q-TOF/MS

In this study, a QuEChERS method based on citrate was developed and utilized for the analysis of twelve neonicotinoid pesticides in fresh red chilies, fresh green chilies, and dried chilies, coupled with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). In the sample preparation, acetonitrile containing 1% formic acid was used as the extraction solvent. Anhydrous sodium sulfate replaced the traditional anhydrous magnesium sulfate for water removal, effectively eliminating the issues of salt caking. Graphitized carbon black, octadecyl silica, and primary secondary amine were used as cleaning agents. The method showed good sensitivity, with the limits of quantification below 0.03 mg/kg for fresh chilies and below 0.15 mg/kg for dried chilies. Values of matrix effects ranged from -19.5% to 8.4%, and the recovery was 86.9% - 105.2%. The analytical method provided an effective tool for the high throughput detection of neonicotinoid pesticide residues in multiple chili matrices.

Role of taste receptors in salty taste perception of minerals and amino acids and developments in salt reduction strategies: A review

Salt (sodium chloride) plays a key role in maintaining the textural, microbiological, and sensorial aspects of the foods. However high dietary salt intake in the population has led to a series of health problems. Currently manufacturers are under pressure to reduce the sodium levels in foods without compromising the consumer experience. Because of the clean salty taste produced by sodium chloride, it has been challenging for the food industry to develop a suitable salt substitute. Studies have shown that different components within a food matrix can influence the perception of saltiness. This review aims to comprehend the potential synergistic effect of compounds such as minerals and amino acids on the perception of saltiness and covers the mechanism of perception where relevant to taste resulting from sodium ions and other metallic ions (such as K, Mg, Ca), as well as various amino acids and their derivatives. Finally, the review summarizes various salt reduction strategies explored by researchers, government organizations and food industry, including the potential use of plant-based extracts.

Lipid raft disruption as an opportunity for peripheral analgesia

Chronic pain conditions are unmet medical needs, since the available drugs, opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs and adjuvant analgesics do not provide satisfactory therapeutic effect in a great proportion of patients. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find novel targets and novel therapeutic approaches that differ from classical pharmacological receptor antagonism. Most ion channels and receptors involved in pain sensation and processing such as Transient Receptor Potential ion channels, opioid receptors, P2X purinoreceptors and neurokinin 1 receptor are located in the lipid raft regions of the plasma membrane. Targeting the membrane lipid composition and structure by sphingolipid or cholesterol depletion might open future perspectives for the therapy of chronic inflammatory, neuropathic or cancer pain, most importantly acting at the periphery.

Taste shaped the use of botanical drugs

The perception of taste and flavour (a combination of taste, smell, and chemesthesis), here also referred to as chemosensation, enables animals to find high-value foods and avoid toxins. Humans have learned to use unpalatable and toxic substances as medicines, yet the importance of chemosensation in this process is poorly understood. Here, we generate tasting-panel data for botanical drugs and apply phylogenetic generalised linear mixed models to test whether intensity and complexity of chemosensory qualities as well as particular tastes and flavours can predict ancient Graeco-Roman drug use. We found chemosensation to be strongly predictive of therapeutic use: botanical drugs with high therapeutic versatility have simple yet intense tastes and flavours, and 21 of 22 chemosensory qualities predicted at least one therapeutic use. In addition to the common notion of bitter tasting medicines, we also found starchy, musky, sweet, and soapy drugs associated with versatility. In ancient Greece and Rome, illness was thought to arise from imbalance in bodily fluids or humours, yet our study suggests that uses of drugs were based on observed physiological effects that are often consistent with modern understanding of chemesthesis and taste receptor pharmacology.

Research Progress on TRPA1 in Diseases

For a long time, the physiological activity of TRP ion channels and the response to various stimuli have been the focus of attention, and the physiological functions mediated by ion channels have subtle links with the occurrence of various diseases. Our group has been engaged in the study of ion channels. In recent years, the report rate of TRPA1, the only member of the TRPA subfamily in the newly described TRP channel, has been very high. TRPA1 channels are not only abundantly expressed in peptidergic nociceptors but are also found in many nonneuronal cell types and tissues, and through the regulation of Ca2+ influx, various neuropeptides and signaling pathways are involved in the regulation of nerves, respiration, circulation, and various diseases and inflammation throughout the body. In this review, we mainly summarize the effects of TRPA1 on various systems in the body, which not only allows us to have a more systematic and comprehensive understanding of TRPA1 but also facilitates more in-depth research on it in the future.

Ion Channel Genes in Painful Neuropathies

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a typical symptom of peripheral nerve disorders, including painful neuropathy. The biological mechanisms that control ion channels are important for many cell activities and are also therapeutic targets. Disruption of the cellular mechanisms that govern ion channel activity can contribute to pain pathophysiology. The voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) is the most researched ion channel in terms of NP; however, VGSC impairment is detected in only <20% of painful neuropathy patients. Here, we discuss the potential role of the other peripheral ion channels involved in sensory signaling (transient receptor potential cation channels), neuronal excitation regulation (potassium channels), involuntary action potential generation (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels), thermal pain (anoctamins), pH modulation (acid sensing ion channels), and neurotransmitter release (calcium channels) related to pain and their prospective role as therapeutic targets for painful neuropathy.

Pungency Perception and the Interaction with Basic Taste Sensations: An Overview

The perception of pungency can be attributed to the combination of pain and heat, and it has critical impacts on food flavor and food consumption preferences. Many studies have reported a variety of pungent ingredients with different Scoville heat units (SHU), and the mechanism of pungent perception was revealed in vivo and in vitro. The worldwide use of spices containing pungent ingredients has led to an increasing awareness of their effects on basic tastes. However, the interaction between basic tastes and pungency perception based on structure-activity relationship, taste perception mechanism and neurotransmission lacks review and summary, considering its brighter prospects in food flavor. Thus, in this review, common pungency substances and pungency evaluation methods, and the mechanism of pungency perception is presented, and the interaction between basic tastes and pungency perception and the possible factors of their interaction are reviewed in detail. Pungent stimuli are mainly transduced through transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and transient receptor potential fixed hormone isoform (TRPA1) activated by stimulants. Using modern detection techniques combined with sensory standards, different substances produce different degrees of pungent stimulation, ranging from 10⁴ to 10⁷ SHU/g. Pungent stimuli can affect taste receptor or channel protein conformation and regulate taste bud cell sensitivity by producing neurotransmission products. The products of neurotransmission and taste receptor cell activation in turn act on taste perception. When there are simultaneous effects of taste perception, pungency stimulation may enhance the perception of salty at a certain concentration, with a mutual inhibition effect with sour, sweet, and bitter taste, while its interaction with umami taste is not obvious. However, due to the complexity of perception and the uncertainty of many perceptual receptors or channels, the current studies of interactions are still controversial. Based on the understanding of the mechanism and influencing factors, the availability of pungency substances is proposed in the perspective of food industry in order to achieve new development.

Gustatory stimulus interventions for older adults with dysphagia: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Gustatory stimulus interventions have been shown to improve swallowing function in older adults with dysphagia. However, the optimal intervention strategies as well as their effects and safety remain unclear.

AIMS

To explore current evidence regarding gustatory stimulus interventions for dysphagia in older adults.

METHODS

Nine electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Sinomed) were searched from their inception to August 2022.

RESULTS

This review identified 263 articles, and 15 met the inclusion criteria. The types of gustatory stimulus interventions included spicy (n = 10), sour (n = 3), and mixed (sour-sweet) stimuli (n = 2), with most studies focusing on spicy stimuli. The most frequently reported spicy stimulus was capsaicin. Further, the most commonly reported intervention frequency was thrice a day before meals for 1-4 weeks. The stimuli concentrations and dosages could not be standardized due to the among-study heterogeneity. These studies reported 16 assessment tools and 42 outcomes, which mainly included videofluoroscopy and swallowing response time respectively. More than half of the included studies reported no adverse effects of gustatory stimulus interventions.

CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSIONS

Gustatory stimulus interventions improved swallowing function in older adults with dysphagia. However, assessment tools and outcomes for dysphagia should be standardized in the future, and explore personalized interventions based on different diseases and their stages, to determine the most cost-effective interventions, and to prevent its complications.

Gene expression of TRPMLs and its regulation by pathogen stimulation

The transient receptor potential mucolipin (TRPML) subfamily in mammalian has three members, namely TRPML1, TRPML2, and TRPML3, who play key roles in regulating intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis, endosomal pH, membrane trafficking and autophagy. Previous studies had shown that three TRPMLs are closely related to the occurrence of pathogen invasion and immune regulation in some immune tissues or cells, but the relationship between TRPMLs expression and pathogen invasion in lung tissue or cell remains elusive. Here, we investigated the expression distribution of three TRPML channels in mouse different tissues by qRT-PCR, and then found that all three TRPMLs were highly expressed in the mouse lung tissue, as well as mouse spleen and kidney tissues. The expression of TRPML1 or TRPML3 in all three mouse tissues had a significant down-regulation after the treatment of Salmonella or LPS, but TRPML2 expression showed a remarkable increase. Consistently, TRPML1 or TRPML3 but not TRPML2 in A549 cells also displayed a decreased expression induced by LPS stimulation, which shared a similar regulation pattern in the mouse lung tissue. Furthermore, the treatment of the TRPML1 or TRPML3 specific activator induced a dose-dependent up-regulation of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα, suggesting that TRPML1 and TRPML3 are likely to play an important role in immune and inflammatory regulation. Together, our study identified the gene expression of TRPMLs induced by pathogen stimulation in vivo and in vitro, which may provide novel targets for innate immunity or pathogen regulation.

Regional brain morphology of the primary somatosensory cortex correlates with spicy food consumption and capsaicin sensitivity

Objective: Habitual spicy food consumption leads to altered perception of capsaicin. Little is known about the neural morphological correlates of habitual spicy food intake and related trigeminal perceptions. In this study, we used voxel-based morphometry to identify brain regions where regional gray matter volume (GMV) correlates to spicy food consumption. Methods: Fifty-two participants were surveyed for their spicy food dietary habit by a composite score of spicy diet duration, frequency of spicy food consumption, and preferred degree of spiciness. Forty-two participants were further assessed for oral sensitivity and intensity ratings of capsaicin-induced irritation, and intranasal sensitivity and intensity of trigeminal odors. Results: We found that the composite spicy score was positively correlated to GMV of the primary somatosensory area (SI), and the primary (M1), supplementary motor areas (SMA) and the putamen. It was negatively correlated to GMV of the anterior insula, orbitofrontal cortex, frontal gyrus and angular gyrus. The GMV of the SI area was negatively correlated to capsaicin sensitivity; the GMV of the right middle frontal gyrus was positively correlated to the irritative intensity for capsaicin at high concentration (70 μM). However, we observed no correlation between the intranasal trigeminal sensitivity and spicy food consumption or the regional GMV. Discussion: Collectively our findings suggest a central neuroanatomical reflection of altered capsaicin perception in relation to habitual spicy food consumption. Future longitudinal studies should elucidate the possible causal relationship of dietary habit and brain structural plasticity.

Reduced BDNF expression in the auditory cortex contributed to neonatal pain-induced hearing impairment and dendritic pruning deficiency in mice

INTRODUCTION

Procedural pain in neonates is associated with impaired neurodevelopment. Whether hearing development is impaired, however, remains unknown. This study examined potential cause-and-effect relationship between neonatal pain and subsequent hearing loss in mice.

METHODS

Male C57BL/6J mouse pups received an intra-plantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant on postnatal day 7 or repetitive needle prick stimuli from postnatal days 0-7. Mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were tested between postnatal days 14 and 49. The auditory brainstem response test was used to determine hearing thresholds. The inner ear structures and dendritic morphology in auditory cortex were assessed using immunofluorescence and Golgi-staining. The effects of oxycodone, tropomyosin receptor kinase B agonists and antagonists were tested.

RESULTS

Neonatal pain resulted in impaired hearing in adulthood of both pain models No damage or synapse loss was found in the cochlea but increased dendritic spine density and reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor level were found in auditory cortex in neonatal pain group. Oxycodone attenuated hearing loss and the associated changes in dendritic spine density and brain-derived neurotrophic factor changes in auditory cortex. A tropomyosin receptor kinase B agonist reversed neonatal pain-induced hearing impairment and decreased caspase 3 expression in auditory cortex. Administration of tropomyosin receptor kinase B antagonist in naïve mouse pups impaired hearing development suppressed phosphorylated-AKT, and increased caspase 3 expression.

CONCLUSION

Chronic pain during the neonatal period resulted in impaired hearing in adulthood in mice, possibly via the brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling pathway and dendritic spine pruning deficiency in auditory cortex.

A systematic review of the biological mediators of fat taste and smell

Taste and smell play a key role in our ability to perceive foods. Overconsumption of highly palatable energy-dense foods can lead to increased caloric intake and obesity. Thus there is growing interest in the study of the biological mediators of fat taste and associated olfaction as potential targets for pharmacologic and nutritional interventions in the context of obesity and health. The number of studies examining mechanisms underlying fat taste and smell has grown rapidly in the last 5 years. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review is to summarize emerging evidence examining the biological mechanisms of fat taste and smell. A literature search was conducted of studies published in English between 2014 and 2021 in adult humans and animal models. Database searches were conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science for key terms including fat/lipid, taste, and olfaction. Initially, 4,062 articles were identified through database searches, and a total of 84 relevant articles met inclusion and exclusion criteria and are included in this review. Existing literature suggests that there are several proteins integral to fat chemosensation, including cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) and G protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120). This systematic review will discuss these proteins and the signal transduction pathways involved in fat detection. We also review neural circuits, key brain regions, ingestive cues, postingestive signals, and genetic polymorphism that play a role in fat perception and consumption. Finally, we discuss the role of fat taste and smell in the context of eating behavior and obesity.

Localization of TRP Channels in Healthy Oral Mucosa from Human Donors

The oral cavity is exposed to a remarkable range of noxious and innocuous conditions, including temperature fluctuations, mechanical forces, inflammation, and environmental and endogenous chemicals. How such changes in the oral environment are sensed is not completely understood. Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels are a diverse family of molecular receptors that are activated by chemicals, temperature changes, and tissue damage. In non-neuronal cells, TRP channels play roles in inflammation, tissue development, and maintenance. In somatosensory neurons, TRP channels mediate nociception, thermosensation, and chemosensation. To assess whether TRP channels might be involved in environmental sensing in the human oral cavity, we investigated their distribution in human tongue and hard palate biopsies. TRPV3 and TRPV4 were expressed in epithelial cells with inverse expression patterns where they likely contribute to epithelial development and integrity. TRPA1 immunoreactivity was present in fibroblasts, immune cells, and neuronal afferents, consistent with known roles of TRPA1 in sensory transduction and response to damage and inflammation. TRPM8 immunoreactivity was found in lamina propria and neuronal subpopulations including within the end bulbs of Krause, consistent with a role in thermal sensation. TRPV1 immunoreactivity was identified in intraepithelial nerve fibers and end bulbs of Krause, consistent with roles in nociception and thermosensation. TRPM8 and TRPV1 immunoreactivity in end bulbs of Krause suggest that these structures contain a variety of neuronal afferents, including those that mediate nociception, thermosensation, and mechanotransduction. Collectively, these studies support the role of TRP channels in oral environmental surveillance and response.

Dysmenorrhoea: Can Medicinal Cannabis Bring New Hope for a Collective Group of Women Suffering in Pain, Globally?

Dysmenorrhoea effects up to 90% of women of reproductive age, with medical management options including over-the-counter analgesia or hormonal contraception. There has been a recent surge in medicinal cannabis research and its analgesic properties. This paper aims to critically investigate the current research of medicinal cannabis for pain relief and to discuss its potential application to treat dysmenorrhoea. Relevant keywords, including medicinal cannabis, pain, cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol, dysmenorrhoea, and clinical trial, have been searched in the PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library (Wiley) databases and a clinical trial website (clinicaltrials.gov). To identify the relevant studies for this paper, 84 papers were reviewed and 20 were discarded as irrelevant. This review critically evaluated cannabis-based medicines and their mechanism and properties in relation to pain relief. It also tabulated all clinical trials carried out investigating medicinal cannabis for pain relief and highlighted the side effects. In addition, the safety and toxicology of medicinal cannabis and barriers to use are highlighted. Two-thirds of the clinical trials summarised confirmed positive analgesic outcomes, with major side effects reported as nausea, drowsiness, and dry mouth. In conclusion, medicinal cannabis has promising applications in the management of dysmenorrhoea. The global medical cannabis market size was valued at USD 11.0 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.06% from 2022 to 2030. This will encourage academic as well as the pharmaceutical and medical device industries to study the application of medical cannabis in unmet clinical disorders.

E-cigarette Flavors, Sensory Perception, and Evoked Responses

The chemosensory experiences evoked by flavors encompass a number of unique sensations that include olfactory stimuli (smell), gustatory stimuli (taste, i.e., salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami (also known as "savoriness")), and chemesthesis (touch). As such, the responses evoked by flavors are complex and, as briefly stated above, involve multiple perceptive mechanisms. The practice of adding flavorings to tobacco products dates back to the 17th century but is likely much older. More recently, the electronic cigarette or "e-cigarette" and its accompanying flavored e-liquids emerged on to the global market. These new products contain no combustible tobacco but often contain large concentrations (reported from 0 to more than 50 mg/mL) of nicotine as well as numerous flavorings and/or flavor chemicals. At present, there are more than 400 e-cigarette brands available along with potentially >15,000 different/unique flavored products. However, surprisingly little is known about the flavors/flavor chemicals added to these products, which can account for >1% by weight of some e-liquids, and their resultant chemosensory experiences, and the US FDA has done relatively little, until recently, to regulate these products. This article will discuss e-cigarette flavors and flavor chemicals, their elicited responses, and their sensory effects in some detail.

Mechanisms of Actions Involved in The Antinociceptive Effect of Estragole and its β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex in Animal Models

(1) Background: estragole is a monoterpene found in the essential oils of several aromatic plants, which can be used for several pharmacological activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of estragole (Es) and its β-cyclodextrins inclusion complex (Es/β-CD). (2) Methods: the effects of Es and Es/β-CD on the central nervous system (CNS) were evaluated through open field and rota-rod assays, and the antinociceptive effect in formalin models, abdominal writhing induced by acetic acid, hot plate, tail flick test and plantar mechanical hyperalgesia. (3) Results: Es and Es/β-CD showed no alterations on the CNS evaluated parameters and the results suggested there was an antinociceptive action in the formalin, abdominal writhing, hot plate, tail flick tests and plantar mechanical hyperalgesia, proposing the involvement of the nitric oxide, glutamatergic signaling pathways, cyclic guanosine monophosphate and vanilloid pathways. (4) Conclusion: the results suggest that Es and Es/β-CD have a promising antinociceptive potential as a possible alternative for the pharmacological treatment of pain, also showing that the encapsulation of Es in β-cyclodextrins probably improves its pharmacological properties, since the complexation process involves much lower amounts of the compound, contributing to better bioavailability and a lower probability of adverse effect development.

Preparation, pungency and bioactivity of gingerols from ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe): a review

Ginger has been widely used for different purposes, such as condiment, functional food, drugs, and cosmetics. Gingerols, the main pungent component in ginger, possess a variety of bioactivities. To fully understand the significance of gingerols in the food and pharmaceutical industry, this paper first recaps the composition and physiochemical properties of gingerols, and the major extraction and synthesis methods. Furthermore, the pungency and bioactivity of gingerols are reviewed. In addition, the food application of gingerols and future perspectives are discussed. Gingerols, characterized by a 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl moiety, are divided into gingerols, shogaols, paradols, zingerone, gingerdiones and gingerdiols. At present, gingerols are extracted by conventional, innovative, and integrated extraction methods, and synthesized by chemical, biological and in vitro cell synthesis methods. Gingerols can activate transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) and induce signal transduction, thereby exhibiting its pungent properties and bioactivity. By targeted mediation of various cell signaling pathways, gingerols display potential anticancer, antibacterial, blood glucose regulatory, hepato- and renal-protective, gastrointestinal regulatory, nerve regulatory, and cardiovascular protective effects. This review contributes to the application of gingerols as functional ingredients in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) is Associated with Movement-Evoked Pain Severity in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: Sociodemographic Differences

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the leading causes of pain and disability in adults in the United States and disproportionately burdens non-Hispanic Black (NHB) individuals and females. Approximately 90% of CLBP cases are of unknown cause, and it is imperative that potential causes be explored. It has been reported that diet quality can influence pain state via diet-induced inflammation. The present study assessed the relationship between Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and movement evoked-pain severity in people with CLBP and investigated whether race/sex moderated the relationship between DII and movement-evoked pain. Results revealed no significant differences in DII scores between males and females, or between NHB and non-Hispanic White (NHW) participants. Participant sex significantly modified the relationship between DII and movement-evoked pain severity (P = .0155), such that movement-evoked pain severity was significantly impacted by DII scores in females, but not males. Participant race did not significantly moderate the DII - movement-evoked pain severity relationship. These results suggest that diet-induced inflammation may impact the CLBP experiences of females to a greater degree than males. Further research is needed to determine whether dietary interventions that reduce inflammation improve CLBP outcomes and whether these interventions may be differentially-beneficial based on sex. PERSPECTIVE: This article highlights the impact of diet-induced inflammation in a community-based sample as a whole, as well as stratified in various sociodemographic groups. This work expands our understanding of the influence of diet on pain experience and suggests that modifications to diet may be efficacious treatments for reducing chronic pain.

A Review on the Role of TRP Channels and Their Potential as Drug Targets_An Insight Into the TRP Channel Drug Discovery Methodologies

Transient receptor potential (TRP) proteins are a large group of ion channels that control many physiological functions in our body. These channels are considered potential therapeutic drug targets for various diseases such as neurological disorders, cancers, cardiovascular disease, and many more. The Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine in the year 2021 was awarded to two scientists for the discovery of TRP and PIEZO ion channels. Improving our knowledge of technologies for their study is essential. In the present study, we reviewed the role of TRP channel types in the control of normal physiological functions as well as disease conditions. Also, we discussed the current and novel technologies that can be used to study these channels successfully. As such, Flux assays for detecting ionic flux through ion channels are among the core and widely used tools for screening drug compounds. Technologies based on these assays are available in fully automated high throughput set-ups and help detect changes in radiolabeled or non-radiolabeled ionic flux. Aurora's Ion Channel Reader (ICR), which works based on label-free technology of flux assay, offers sensitive, accurate, and reproducible measurements to perform drug ranking matching with patch-clamp (gold standard) data. The non-radiolabeled trace-based flux assay coupled with the ICR detects changes in various ion types, including potassium, calcium, sodium, and chloride channels, by using appropriate tracer ions. This technology is now considered one of the very successful approaches for analyzing ion channel activity in modern drug discovery. It could be a successful approach for studying various ion channels and transporters, including the different members of the TRP family of ion channels.

Not Only COVID-19: Involvement of Multiple Chemosensory Systems in Human Diseases

Chemosensory systems are deemed marginal in human pathology. In appraising their role, we aim at suggesting a paradigm shift based on the available clinical and experimental data that will be discussed. Taste and olfaction are polymodal sensory systems, providing inputs to many brain structures that regulate crucial visceral functions, including metabolism but also endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, and immune systems. Moreover, other visceral chemosensory systems monitor different essential chemical parameters of “milieu intérieur,” transmitting their data to the brain areas receiving taste and olfactory inputs; hence, they participate in regulating the same vital functions. These chemosensory cells share many molecular features with olfactory or taste receptor cells, thus they may be affected by the same pathological events. In most COVID-19 patients, taste and olfaction are disturbed. This may represent only a small portion of a broadly diffuse chemosensory incapacitation. Indeed, many COVID-19 peculiar symptoms may be explained by the impairment of visceral chemosensory systems, for example, silent hypoxia, diarrhea, and the “cytokine storm”. Dysregulation of chemosensory systems may underlie the much higher mortality rate of COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) compared to ARDSs of different origins. In chronic non-infectious diseases like hypertension, diabetes, or cancer, the impairment of taste and/or olfaction has been consistently reported. This may signal diffuse chemosensory failure, possibly worsening the prognosis of these patients. Incapacitation of one or few chemosensory systems has negligible effects on survival under ordinary life conditions but, under stress, like metabolic imbalance or COVID-19 pneumonia, the impairment of multiple chemosensory systems may lead to dire consequences during the course of the disease.

Antagonism of the transient receptor potential melastatin‑2 channel leads to targeted antitumor effects in primary human malignant melanoma cells

Melanoma continues to be the most aggressive and devastating form of skin cancer for which the development of novel therapies is required. The present study aimed to determine the effects of antagonism of the transient receptor potential melastatin‑2 (TRPM2) ion channel in primary human malignant melanoma cells. TRPM2 antagonism via use of the antifungal agent, clotrimazole, led to decreases in cell proliferation, as well as dose‑dependent increases in cell death in all melanoma cell lines investigated. The targeting of TRPM2 channels was verified using TRPM2 knockdown, where treatment with TRPM2 small‑interfering RNA led to similar levels of cell death in all melanoma cell lines when compared with clotrimazole treatment. Minimal effects on proliferation and cell death were observed following antagonism or knockdown of TRPM2 in non‑cancerous human keratinocytes. Moreover, characteristics of TRPM2 were explored in these melanoma cells and the results demonstrated that TRPM2, localized to the plasma membrane as a non‑specific ion channel in non‑cancerous cells, displayed a nuclear localization in all human melanoma cell lines analyzed. Additional characterization of these melanoma cell lines confirmed that each expressed one or more established multidrug resistance genes. Results of the present study therefore indicated that antagonism of the TRPM2 channel led to antitumor effects in human melanoma cells, including those that are potentially unresponsive to current treatments due to the expression of drug resistance genes. The unique cellular localization of TRPM2 and the specificity of the antitumor effects elicited by TRPM2 antagonism suggested that TRPM2 possesses a unique role in melanoma cells. Collectively, the targeting of TRPM2 represents a potentially novel, efficacious and readily accessible treatment option for patients with melanoma.

Mechanosensitive TRPV4 is required for crystal-induced inflammation

Crystal structures activate innate immune cells, especially macrophages and initiate inflammatory responses. We aimed to understand the role of the mechanosensitive TRPV4 channel in crystal-induced inflammation. Real-time RT-PCR, RNAscope in situ hybridisation, and Trpv4^eGFP mice were used to examine TRPV4 expression and whole-cell patch-clamp recording and live-cell Ca²⁺ imaging were used to study TRPV4 function in mouse synovial macrophages and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Both genetic deletion and pharmacological inhibition approaches were used to investigate the role of TRPV4 in NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by diverse crystals in vitro and in mouse models of crystal-induced pain and inflammation in vivo. TRPV4 was functionally expressed by synovial macrophages and human PBMCs and TRPV4 expression was upregulated by stimulation with monosodium urate (MSU) crystals and in human PBMCs from patients with acute gout flares. MSU crystal-induced gouty arthritis were significantly reduced by either genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition of TRPV4 function. Mechanistically, TRPV4 mediated the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome by diverse crystalline materials but not non-crystalline NLRP3 inflammasome activators, driving the production of inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β which elicited TRPV4-dependent inflammatory responses in vivo. Moreover, chemical ablation of the TRPV1-expressing nociceptors significantly attenuated the MSU crystal-induced gouty arthritis. In conclusion, TRPV4 is a common mediator of inflammatory responses induced by diverse crystals through NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages. TRPV4-expressing resident macrophages are critically involved in MSU crystal-induced gouty arthritis. A neuroimmune interaction between the TRPV1-expressing nociceptors and the TRPV4-expressing synovial macrophages contributes to the generation of acute gout flares.

A novel strategy for treating cancer: understanding the role of Ca2+ signaling from nociceptive TRP channels in regulating cancer progression

Cancer is an aging-associated disease and caused by genomic instability that is driven by the accumulation of mutations and epimutations in the aging process. Although Ca²⁺ signaling, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, DNA damage response (DDR) and senescence inflammation response (SIR) are processed during genomic instability, the underlying mechanism for the cause of genomic instability and cancer development is still poorly understood and needs to be investigated. Nociceptive transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, which firstly respond to environmental stimuli, such as microbes, chemicals or physical injuries, potentiate regulation of the aging process by Ca²⁺ signaling. In this review, the authors provide an explanation of the dual role of nociceptive TRP channels in regulating cancer progression, initiating cancer progression by aging-induced genomic instability, and promoting malignancy by epigenetic regulation. Thus, therapeutically targeting nociceptive TRP channels seems to be a novel strategy for treating cancers.

The Endocannabinoid System: A Potential Target for the Treatment of Various Diseases

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is primarily responsible for maintaining homeostasis, a balance in internal environment (temperature, mood, and immune system) and energy input and output in living, biological systems. In addition to regulating physiological processes, the ECS directly influences anxiety, feeding behaviour/appetite, emotional behaviour, depression, nervous functions, neurogenesis, neuroprotection, reward, cognition, learning, memory, pain sensation, fertility, pregnancy, and pre-and post-natal development. The ECS is also involved in several pathophysiological diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. In recent years, genetic and pharmacological manipulation of the ECS has gained significant interest in medicine, research, and drug discovery and development. The distribution of the components of the ECS system throughout the body, and the physiological/pathophysiological role of the ECS-signalling pathways in many diseases, all offer promising opportunities for the development of novel cannabinergic, cannabimimetic, and cannabinoid-based therapeutic drugs that genetically or pharmacologically modulate the ECS via inhibition of metabolic pathways and/or agonism or antagonism of the receptors of the ECS. This modulation results in the differential expression/activity of the components of the ECS that may be beneficial in the treatment of a number of diseases. This manuscript in-depth review will investigate the potential of the ECS in the treatment of various diseases, and to put forth the suggestion that many of these secondary metabolites of Cannabis sativa L. (hereafter referred to as "C. sativa L." or "medical cannabis"), may also have potential as lead compounds in the development of cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals for a variety of diseases.

Chemical Constituents and Anti-Gastric Ulcer Activity of Essential Oils of Alpinia officinarum (Zingiberaceae), Cyperus rotundus (Cyperaceae), and Their Herbal Pair

The essential oil (EO) of the herbal pair (HP), Alpinia officinarum-Cyperus rotundus (HP G-X) has been conventionally used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for 'warming the stomach' and relieving pain. However, its pharmacologically active compounds, as well as the mechanism of its anti-gastric ulcer properties remain unclear. In this study, the EOs obtained from HP G-X and its corresponding single herbs were analyzed using GC/MS. A total of 74, 56, and 85 compounds were detected in A. officinarum (GLJ), C. rotundus (XF), and HP G-X, accounting for 93.2 %, 89.5 %, and 92.0 % of the total content, respectively. GLJ mainly contains 1,8-cineol (22.0 %) and α-terpineol (11.8 %), whereas cyperenone (22.4 %) and cyperene (12.3 %) were the major constituents in XF. These four compounds were also detected in the HP G-X with relatively high composition as 11.8 %, 5.5 %, 11.8 %, and 10.6 %, respectively. Although no new compounds were detected in HP G-X, the relative concentration of some compounds increased, while others decreased or even disappeared. HP G-X showed the lowest toxicity (TC₅₀ >800 μg/mL) against human gastric mucosal epithelial cells (GES-1) and had the best protective effect against ethanol-induced GES-1 cell damage compared to the individual herbs. In vitro studies demonstrated that HP G-X and the corresponding single herbs significantly reduced IL-6, TNF-α, and COX-2. In addition, in vivo investigations indicated that HP G-X can protect the gastric mucosa of mice from ethanol-induced damage by inhibiting the inflammatory reaction and providing analgesia. It can also inhibit the expression of NF-κBp65, COX-2, and TRPV1 protein, reduce the concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α, and relieve heat-induced pain. This study further substantiated the traditional application of HP G-X against gastric ulcers through both in vivo and in vitro investigations.

Possible Use of Phytochemicals for Recovery from COVID-19-Induced Anosmia and Ageusia

The year 2020 became the year of the outbreak of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which escalated into a worldwide pandemic and continued into 2021. One of the unique symptoms of the SARS-CoV-2 disease, COVID-19, is the loss of chemical senses, i.e., smell and taste. Smell training is one of the methods used in facilitating recovery of the olfactory sense, and it uses essential oils of lemon, rose, clove, and eucalyptus. These essential oils were not selected based on their chemical constituents. Although scientific studies have shown that they improve recovery, there may be better combinations for facilitating recovery. Many phytochemicals have bioactive properties with anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects. In this review, we describe the chemical compounds with anti- inflammatory and anti-viral effects, and we list the plants that contain these chemical compounds. We expand the review from terpenes to the less volatile flavonoids in order to propose a combination of essential oils and diets that can be used to develop a new taste training method, as there has been no taste training so far. Finally, we discuss the possible use of these in clinical settings.

Interactions between Chemesthesis and Taste: Role of TRPA1 and TRPV1

In addition to the sense of taste and olfaction, chemesthesis, the sensation of irritation, pungency, cooling, warmth, or burning elicited by spices and herbs, plays a central role in food consumption. Many plant-derived molecules demonstrate their chemesthetic properties via the opening of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channels. TRPA1 and TRPV1 are structurally related thermosensitive cation channels and are often co-expressed in sensory nerve endings. TRPA1 and TRPV1 can also indirectly influence some, but not all, primary taste qualities via the release of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from trigeminal neurons and their subsequent effects on CGRP receptor expressed in Type III taste receptor cells. Here, we will review the effect of some chemesthetic agonists of TRPA1 and TRPV1 and their influence on bitter, sour, and salt taste qualities.

Pain, Smell, and Taste in Adults: A Narrative Review of Multisensory Perception and Interaction

Every day our sensory systems perceive and integrate a variety of stimuli containing information vital for our survival. Pain acts as a protective warning system, eliciting a response to remove harmful stimuli; it may also be a symptom of an illness or present as a disease itself. There is a growing need for additional pain-relieving therapies involving the multisensory integration of smell and taste in pain modulation, an approach that may provide new strategies for the treatment and management of pain. While pain, smell, and taste share common features and are strongly linked to emotion and cognition, their interaction has been poorly explored. In this review, we provide an overview of the literature on pain modulation by olfactory and gustatory substances. It includes adult human studies investigating measures of pain threshold, tolerance, intensity, and/or unpleasantness. Due to the limited number of studies currently available, we have structured this review as a narrative in which we comment on experimentally induced and clinical pain separately on pain–smell and pain–taste interaction. Inconsistent study findings notwithstanding, pain, smell, and taste seem to interact at both the behavioral and the neural levels. Pain intensity and unpleasantness seem to be affected more by olfactory substances, whereas pain threshold and tolerance are influenced by gustatory substances. Few pilot studies to date have investigated these effects in clinical populations. While the current results are promising for the future, more evidence is needed to elucidate the link between the chemical senses and pain. Doing so has the potential to improve and develop novel options for pain treatment.

A Luminescence-Based Human TRPV1 Assay System for Quantifying Pungency in Spicy Foods

The quantitation of pungency is difficult to achieve using sensory tests because of persistence, accumulation, and desensitization to the perception of pungency. Transient receptor vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), which is a chemosensory receptor, plays a pivotal role in the perception of many pungent compounds, suggesting that the activity of this receptor might be useful as an index for pungency evaluation. Although Ca²⁺-sensitive fluorescence dyes are commonly used for measuring human TRPV1 (hTRPV1) activity, their application is limited, as foods often contain fluorescent substances that interfere with the fluorescent signals. This study aims to design a new pungency evaluation system using hTRPV1. Instead of employing a fluorescent probe as the Ca²⁺ indicator, this assay system uses the luminescent protein aequorin. The luminescence assay successfully evaluated the hTRPV1 activity in foods without purification, even for those containing fluorescent substances. The hTRPV1 activity in food samples correlated strongly with the pungency intensity obtained by the human sensory test. This luminescence-based hTRPV1 assay system will be a powerful tool for objectively quantifying the pungency of spicy foods in both laboratory and industrial settings.

TRPM Channels in Human Diseases

The transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) subfamily belongs to the TRP cation channels family. Since the first cloning of TRPM1 in 1989, tremendous progress has been made in identifying novel members of the TRPM subfamily and their functions. The TRPM subfamily is composed of eight members consisting of four six-transmembrane domain subunits, resulting in homomeric or heteromeric channels. From a structural point of view, based on the homology sequence of the coiled-coil in the C-terminus, the eight TRPM members are clustered into four groups: TRPM1/M3, M2/M8, M4/M5 and M6/M7. TRPM subfamily members have been involved in several physiological functions. However, they are also linked to diverse pathophysiological human processes. Alterations in the expression and function of TRPM subfamily ion channels might generate several human diseases including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative alterations, organ dysfunction, cancer and many other channelopathies. These effects position them as remarkable putative targets for novel diagnostic strategies, drug design and therapeutic approaches. Here, we review the current knowledge about the main characteristics of all members of the TRPM family, focusing on their actions in human diseases.