BIO

 

ABSTRACT

Title: 
TRP Channel Mutations as Key Factors in Chronic Pain Susceptibility
 
Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels act as molecular detectors within the body. They sense and respond to diverse changes in the cellular environment, including temperature, chemical signals, mechanical stretch or pressure, osmolarity, redox state, and pH. Several members of the TRP channel superfamily are expressed in the peripheral sensory nerve endings, where they play a central role in the development of both acute and chronic pain.

Using a combination of molecular modeling and biophysical techniques, I investigate recurrent TRP channel mutations in patients suffering from severe chronic pain, with the aim of determining whether a genetic predisposition contributes to pain susceptibility. In this context, I have recently analyzed TRP mutations identified in patients with trigeminal neuralgia and corneal neuralgia [1–3], providing key structural insights into how these mutations may drive hyperexcitability of trigeminal neurons and trigger the onset of chronic pain.

[1] Gualdani et al., Neurology: Genetics (2021), 7(1)
[2] Gualdani et al., PNAS (2022), 119(38), e2119630119
[3] Gualdani et al., PNAS (2024), 121(37), e2406186121