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Journal of Translational Medicine
Published in: Journal of Translational Medicine 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Capsaicin | Research

The capsaicin receptor TRPV1 is the first line defense protecting from acute non damaging heat: a translational approach

Authors: Daniela C. Rosenberger, Uta Binzen, Rolf-Detlef Treede, Wolfgang Greffrath

Published in: Journal of Translational Medicine | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

Pain is the vital sense preventing tissue damage by harmful noxious stimuli. The capsaicin receptor TRPV1 is activated by noxious temperatures, however, acute heat pain is only marginally affected in mice after TRPV1 knockout but completely eliminated in mice lacking TRPV1 positive fibers. Exploring contribution of candidate signal transduction mechanisms to heat pain in humans needs translational models.

Methods

We used focused, non-damaging, short near-infrared laser heat stimuli (wavelength 1470/1475 nm) to study the involvement of TRPV1-expressing nerve fibers in the encoding of heat pain intensity. Human psychophysics (both sexes) were compared to calcium transients in native rat DRG neurons and heterologously expressing HEK293 cells.

Results

Heating of dermal and epidermal nerve fibers in humans with laser stimuli of ≥ 2.5 mJ (≥ 25 ms, 100 mW) induced pain that increased linearly as a function of stimulus intensity in double logarithmic space across two orders of magnitude and was completely abolished by desensitization using topical capsaicin. In DRG neurons and TRPV1-expressing HEK cells, heat sensitivity was restricted to capsaicin sensitive cells. Strength duration curves (2–10 ms range) and thresholds (DRGs 0.56 mJ, HEK cells 0.52 mJ) were nearly identical. Tachyphylaxis upon repetitive stimulation occurred in HEK cells (54%), DRGs (59%), and humans (25%).

Conclusion

TRPV1-expressing nociceptors encode transient non-damaging heat pain in humans, thermal gating of TRPV1 is similar in HEK cells and DRG neurons, and TRPV1 tachyphylaxis is an important modulator of heat pain sensitivity. These findings suggest that TRPV1 expressed in dermal and epidermal populations of nociceptors serves as first line defense against heat injury.
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Metadata
Title
The capsaicin receptor TRPV1 is the first line defense protecting from acute non damaging heat: a translational approach
Authors
Daniela C. Rosenberger
Uta Binzen
Rolf-Detlef Treede
Wolfgang Greffrath
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Translational Medicine / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1479-5876
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-019-02200-2

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