The Spanish Ion channel Initiative (SICI) consortium: Ten years (2008-2018) of a network of excellence on ion channel research

The Spanish Ion Channel Initiative consortium (SICI, http://sici.umh.es/default.htm) started in 2008 merging the research interests of 26 Spanish multidisciplinary groups focused on ion channel investigations from the pathophysiology to drug discovery. This initiative, partially supported by public Spanish government funds, was also the promoter of the Spanish Network on Ion Channels (RECI), a multidisciplinary network that includes more than 50 Spanish groups interested on ion channels (www.reci-ionchannel.org). In the present Special Issue, some SICI members, as well as RECI colleagues, wanted to contribute with the most update knowledge of representative ion channel research in Spain for the last 10 years

Activation of Store-Operated Ca2+ Current in Xenopus Oocytes Requires SNAP-25 but Not a Diffusible Messenger

AbstractDepletion of Ca2+ stores in Xenopus oocytes activated entry of Ca2+ across the plasma membrane, which was measured as a current ISOC in subsequently formed cell-attached patches. ISOC survived excision into inside-out configuration. If cell-attached patches were formed before store depletion, ISOC was activated outside but not inside the patches. ISOC was potentiated by microinjection of Clostridium C3 transferase, which inhibits Rho GTPase, whereas ISOC was inhibited by expression of wild-type or constitutively active Rho. Activation of ISOC was also inhibited by botulinum neurotoxin A and dominant-negative mutants of SNAP-25 but was unaffected by brefeldin A. These results suggest that oocyte ISOC is dependent not on aqueous diffusible messengers but on SNAP-25, probably via exocytosis of membrane channels or regulatory molecules

Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 8 Channel (TRPM8) Modulation: Cool Entryway for Treating Pain and Cancer

TRPM8 ion channels, the primary cold sensors in humans, are activated by innocuous cooling (<28 °C) and cooling compounds (menthol, icilin) and are implicated in sensing unpleasant cold stimuli as well as in mammalian thermoregulation. Overexpression of these thermoregulators in prostate cancer and in other life-threatening tumors, along with their contribution to an increasing number of pathological conditions, opens a plethora of medicinal chemistry opportunities to develop receptor modulators. This Perspective seeks to describe current known modulators for this ion channel because both agonists and antagonists may be useful for the treatment of most TRPM8-mediated pathologies. We primarily focus on SAR data for the different families of compounds and the pharmacological properties of the most promising ligands. Furthermore, we also address the knowledge about the channel structure, although still in its infancy, and the role of the TRPM8 protein signalplex to channel function and dysfunction. We finally outline the potential future prospects of the challenging TRPM8 drug discovery fieldWe thank Gregorio Fernández-Ballester for the figure of the TRPM8 homology model. Funding from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (BFU 2012-39092-C02; SAF2015-66275-C2-R) and the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO II/2014/011).Peer reviewe

Increased expression of Trpv1 in peripheral terminals mediates thermal nociception in Fabry disease mouse model

Fabry disease is a X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficient function of the alpha-galactosidase A (\u3b1-GalA) enzyme. \u3b1-GalA deficiency leads to multisystemic clinical manifestations caused by the preferential accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in the endothelium and vascular smooth muscles. A hallmark symptom of Fabry disease patients is neuropathic pain that appears in the early stage of the disease as a result of peripheral small fiber damage. The \u3b1-GalA gene null mouse model (\u3b1-GalA(-/0)) has provided molecular evidence for the molecular alterations in small type-C nociceptors in Fabry disease that may underlie their hyperexcitability, although the specific mechanism remains elusive. Here, we have addressed this question and report that small type-C nociceptors from \u3b1-GalA(-/0) mice exhibit a significant increase in the expression and function of the TRPV1 channel, a thermoTRP channel implicated in painful heat sensation. Notably, male \u3b1-GalA(-/0) mice displayed a 482-fold higher heat sensitivity than wild-type animals, consistent with the augmented expression levels and activity of TRPV1 in \u3b1-GalA(-/0) nociceptors. Intriguingly, blockade of neuronal exocytosis with peptide DD04107, a process that inhibits among others the algesic membrane recruitment of TRPV1 channels in peptidergic nociceptors, virtually eliminated the enhanced heat nociception of \u3b1-GalA(-/0) mice. Together, these findings suggest that the augmented expression of TRPV1 in \u3b1-GalA(-/0) nociceptors may underly at least in part their increased heat sensitivity, and imply that blockade of peripheral neuronal exocytosis may be a valuable pharmacological strategy to reduce pain in Fabry disease patients, increasing their quality of life

Differential role of the menthol-binding residue Y745 in the antagonism of thermally gated TRPM8 channels

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>TRPM8 is a non-selective cation channel that belongs to the melastatin subfamily of the transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels. TRPM8 is activated by voltage, cold and cooling compounds such as menthol. Despite its essential role for cold temperature sensing in mammals, the pharmacology of TRPM8 is still in its infancy. Recently, tyrosine 745 (Y745) was identified as a critical residue for menthol sensitivity of the channel. In this report, we study the effect of mutating this residue on the action of several known TRPM8 antagonists: BCTC, capsazepine, SKF96365, and clotrimazole as well as two new inhibitor candidates, econazole and imidazole.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that Y745 at the menthol binding site is critical for inhibition mediated by SKF96365 of cold- and voltage-activated TRPM8 currents. In contrast, the inhibition by other antagonists was unaffected by the mutation (BCTC) or only partially reduced (capsazepine, clotrimazole, econazole), suggesting that additional binding sites exist on the TRPM8 channel from where the inhibitors exert their negative modulation. Indeed, a molecular docking model implies that menthol and SKF96365 interact readily with Y745, while BCTC is unable to bind to this residue.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In summary, we identify structural elements on the TRPM8 channel that are critical for the action of channel antagonists, providing valuable information for the future design of new, specific modulator compounds.</p

Structural compatibility between the putative voltage sensor of voltage-gated K+ channels and the prokaryotic KcsA channel.

Sequence similarity among and electrophysiological studies of known potassium channels, along with the three-dimensional structure of the Streptomyces lividans K(+) channel (KcsA), support the tenet that voltage-gated K(+) channels (Kv channels) consist of two distinct modules: the "voltage sensor" module comprising the N-terminal portion of the channel up to and including the S4 transmembrane segment and the "pore" module encompassing the C-terminal portion from the S5 transmembrane segment onward. To substantiate this modular design, we investigated whether the pore module of Kv channels may be replaced with the pore module of the prokaryotic KcsA channel. Biochemical and immunocytochemical studies showed that chimeric channels were expressed on the cell surface of Xenopus oocytes, demonstrating that they were properly synthesized, glycosylated, folded, assembled, and delivered to the plasma membrane. Unexpectedly, surface-expressed homomeric chimeras did not exhibit detectable voltage-dependent channel activity upon both hyperpolarization and depolarization regardless of the expression system used. Chimeras were, however, strongly dominant-negative when coexpressed with wild-type Kv channels, as evidenced by the complete suppression of wild-type channel activity. Notably, the dominant-negative phenotype correlated well with the formation of stable, glycosylated, nonfunctional, heteromeric channels. Collectively, these findings imply a structural compatibility between the prokaryotic pore module and the eukaryotic voltage sensor domain that leads to the biogenesis of non-responsive channels. Our results lend support to the notion that voltage-dependent channel gating depends on the precise coupling between both protein domains, probably through a localized interaction surface

Role of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 in inflammation and sepsis

The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a thermoreceptor that responds to noxious temperatures, as well as to chemical agonists, such as vanilloids and protons. In addition, its channel activity is notably potentiated by proinflammatory mediators released upon tissue damage. The TRPV1 contribution to sensory neuron sensitization by proalgesic agents has signaled this receptor as a prime target for analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug intervention. However, TRPV1 antagonists have notably failed in clinical and preclinical studies because of their unwanted side effects. Recent reports have unveiled previously unrecognized anti-inflammatory and protective functions of TRPV1 in several diseases. For instance, this channel has been suggested to play an anti-inflammatory role in sepsis. Therefore, the use of potent TRPV1 antagonists as a general strategy to treat inflammation must be cautiously considered, given the deleterious effects that may arise from inhibiting the population of channels that have a protective function. The use of TRPV1 antagonists may be limited to treating those pathologies where enhanced receptor activity contributes to the inflamed state. Alternatively, therapeutic paradigms, such as reduction of inflammatory-mediated increase of receptor expression in the cell surface, may be a better strategy to prevent abrogation of the TRPV1 subpopulation involved in anti-inflammatory and protective processes