The role of TRPV4 channels in cutaneous epithelia.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channels are multi-modally activated cation permeable channels that are expressed most organ tissues including the skin. TRPV4 is highly expressed in the skin and functions in skin resident cells such as epidermal keratinocytes, melanocytes, immune mast cells and macrophages, and cutaneous neurons. TRPV4 plays many crucial roles in skin homeostasis to affect an extensive range of processes such as temperature sensation, osmo-sensation, hair growth, cell apoptosis, skin barrier integrity, differentiation, nociception and itch. Since TRPV4 functions in a plenitude of pathological states, TRPV4 can become a versatile therapeutic target for diseases such as chronic pain, itch and skin cancer.