TRPs to Cardiovascular Disease

Transient receptor potential (TRP) is a large superfamily of cation channels comprising 28 members in mammals. TRP channels are ubiquitously expressed in human tissues, including the cardiovascular system where they have been associated with a number of physiological functions, such as proliferation, contraction, and migration. TRP channels comprise six large families of cation channels: TRPC, TRPM, TRPV, TRPP, TRPA, and TRPML with diverse ion selectivities and modes of activation. Depending on the isoform considered, activation of TRP channels can cause entry of Ca²⁺ , Na⁺ , or Mg²⁺ into cells. TRP channels have recently emerged as attractive drug targets for treatment of cardiovascular diseases since their expression and/or activation was shown to be disturbed in certain pathophysiological conditions, such as cardiac hypertrophy and hypertension. In this short review, we will summarize data on the expression of TRP channels in the three major cell types of the cardiovascular system: cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells and will review evidence for the involvement of TRP channels in mediating cardiovascular disease.