The role of transient receptor potential vanilloid type-2 ion channels in innate and adaptive immune responses

The transient receptor potential vanilloid type-2 (TRPV2), belonging to the transient receptor potential channel family, is a specialized ion channel expressed in human and other mammalian immune cells. This channel has been found to be expressed in CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cells, where its cytosolic Ca(2)(+) activity is crucial for stem/progenitor cell cycle progression, growth, and differentiation. In innate immune cells, TRPV2 is expressed in granulocytes, macrophages, and monocytes where it stimulates fMet-Leu-Phe migration, zymosan-, immunoglobulin G-, and complement-mediated phagocytosis, and lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 production. In mast cells, activation of TRPV2 allows intracellular Ca(2)(+) ions flux, thus stimulating protein kinase A-dependent degranulation. In addition, TRPV2 is highly expressed in CD56(+) natural killer cells. TRPV2 orchestrates Ca(2)(+) signal in T cell activation, proliferation, and effector functions. Moreover, messenger RNA for TRPV2 are expressed in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes. Finally, TRPV2 is expressed in CD19(+) B lymphocytes where it regulates Ca(2)(+) release during B cell development and activation. Overall, the specific expression of TRPV2 in immune cells suggests a role in immune-mediated diseases and offers new potential targets for immunomodulation.