Zhang Xuming
a Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health & Institute of Medical Sciences ; University of Aberdeen , Foresterhill , Aberdeen , UK.
Channels (Austin). 2015;9(2):73-81. doi: 10.1080/19336950.2015.1025186.
The detection of temperature is one of the most fundamental sensory functions across all species, and is critical for animal survival. Animals have thus evolved a diversity of thermosensory mechanisms allowing them to sense and respond to temperature changes (thermoreception). A key process underlying thermoreception is the translation of thermal energy into electrical signals, a process mediated by thermal sensors (thermoreceptors) that are sensitive to a specific range of temperatures. In disease conditions, the temperature sensitivity of thermoreceptors is altered, leading to abnormal temperature sensation such as heat hyperalgesia. Therefore, the identification of thermal sensors and understanding their functions and regulation hold great potential for developing novel therapeutics against many medical conditions such as pain.
温度检测是所有物种最基本的感官功能之一，对动物生存至关重要。因此，动物进化出了多种热感觉机制，使它们能够感知并对温度变化做出反应（温度感受）。温度感受的一个关键过程是将热能转化为电信号，这一过程由对特定温度范围敏感的热传感器（温度感受器）介导。在疾病状态下，温度感受器的温度敏感性会发生改变，导致异常的温度感觉，如热痛觉过敏。因此，识别热传感器并了解它们的功能和调节，对于开发针对许多医疗状况（如疼痛）的新型疗法具有巨大潜力。
