Introduction to TRPs: A Quest for Novel Drug Targets

This introduction lists TRP channels as possible pharmaceutical targets and will also refer to some methodological and still scientific caveats. First, it will be highlighted which scientific problems are still necessary to solve, including permeation, gating regulation. This part leads to the methodological aspect of the book. Second, the well-known problem of evaluating expression of several TRP channels in organs which need to be affected will be shortly discussed. Third, natural compounds as evolutionary important small molecules to modify TRP functions will be added. Last, some important diseases which might have priority as drug targets, focused on neurodegenerative diseases, will be mentioned.