Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: TRP , TRPM , TRPM2

Title: TRPM2 cation channels modulate T cell effector functions and contribute to autoimmune CNS inflammation.

Authors: Nico Melzer, Gordon Hicking, Kerstin Göbel, Heinz Wiendl

Journal, date & volume: PLoS ONE, 2012 , 7, e47617

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23077651

Abstract
TRPM2, a highly Ca(2+)-permeable member of the transient receptor potential melastatin-related (TRPM) family of cation channels, is expressed in cells of the immune system. We demonstrate firstly that TRPM2 cation channels on T cells critically influence T cell proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine secretion following polyclonal T cell receptor stimulation. Consistently, trpm2-deficient mice exhibited an attenuated clincal phenotype of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) with reduced inflammatory and demyelinating spinal cord lesions. Importantly, trmp2-deficient T cells were as susceptible as wildtype T cells to oxidative stress-induced cell death as it occurs in inflammatory CNS lesions. This supports the notion that the attenuated EAE phenotype is mainly due to reduced T cell effector functions but unaffected by potential modulation of T cell survival at the site of inflammation. Our findings suggest TRPM2 cation channels as a potential target for treating autoimmune CNS inflammation.