The mechano-activated K+ channels TRAAK and TREK-1 control both warm and cold perception

• Published in: The EMBO journal 2009-05, Vol.28 (9), p.1308-1318
• Main Authors: Noël, Jacques, Zimmermann, Katharina, Busserolles, Jérome, Deval, Emanuel, Alloui, Abdelkrim, Diochot, Sylvie, Guy, Nicolas, Borsotto, Marc, Reeh, Peter, Eschalier, Alain, Lazdunski, Michel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; background potassium channels; Cells, Cultured; cold sensitization; Cold Temperature; Electrophysiology; EMBO27; EMBO37; Ganglia, Spinal; Ganglia, Spinal - cytology; heat sensitization; Hot Temperature; Life Sciences; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Mutant Strains; Molecular biology; Neurons; Neurons and Cognition; Pain; Perception; Potassium; Potassium Channels; Potassium Channels - genetics; Potassium Channels - physiology; Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain; Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain - genetics; Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain - physiology; Sensory perception; Sensory Receptor Cells; Sensory Receptor Cells - cytology; Sensory Receptor Cells - metabolism; Skin; Temperature; Temperature Sense; thermo transduction; Thermosensing - genetics; Thermosensing - physiology; TRAAK; TREK-1
• ISSN: 0261-4189; 1460-2075
• DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2009.57

The sensation of cold or heat depends on the activation of specific nerve endings in the skin. This involves heat‐ and cold‐sensitive excitatory transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. However, we show here that the mechano‐gated and highly temperature‐sensitive potassium channels of the TREK/TRAAK family, which normally work as silencers of the excitatory channels, are also implicated. They are important for the definition of temperature thresholds and temperature ranges in which excitation of nociceptor takes place and for the intensity of excitation when it occurs. They are expressed with thermo‐TRP channels in sensory neurons. TRAAK and TREK‐1 channels control pain produced by mechanical stimulation and both heat and cold pain perception in mice. Expression of TRAAK alone or in association with TREK‐1 controls heat responses of both capsaicin‐sensitive and capsaicin‐insensitive sensory neurons. Together TREK‐1 and TRAAK channels are important regulators of nociceptor activation by cold, particularly in the nociceptor population that is not activated by menthol.