Chapter One
TRP channels as drug targets
Su Li, John Westwick, Brian Cox and Chris T. Poll
Novartis Respiratory Research Centre, Wimblehurst Road, Horsham,
West Sussex, RH12 5AB, UK
Abstract. [Ca.sup.2+] channel antagonists acting on electrically-excitable cells have proved to be
valuable therapeutic agents. The discovery of such agents and the identification of their
molecular target resulted from the investigation of unexpected actions of known
pharmacological agents. [Ca.sup.2+] influx through receptor-operated channels in electrically
non-excitable cells such as leukocytes is also functionally important, but to date the
channels involved have not been successfully exploited as drug targets for anti-inflammatory
therapy. Until recently, research in this area has been hindered by the lack
of obvious molecular identity, but the emergence of the transient receptor potential
(TRP) cation family has yielded promising candidates which may underpin the different
receptor-operated [Ca.sup.2+] influx pathways present in ... read full excerpt from Mammalian TRP Channels as Molecular Targets - No. 258 ebook
