Transient receptor potential channels as emerging therapeutic targets: mechanisms and therapeutic insights in inflammatory bowel disease.

Transient Receptor Potential channels (TRPs) are a family of non-selective cation channels widely distributed across diverse tissues and cells in mammals. They participate in numerous physiological processes, including environmental stimulus perception, signal transduction, neurotransmitter release, and insulin secretion. The involvement of TRPs in pain syndromes, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, and tumorigenesis has established them as prominent targets in translational medicine. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory disorder of the intestine. Its pathogenesis involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, gut microbiota dysbiosis, immune system dysregulation, and neuroimmunomodulatory disturbances. Although the precise etiology of IBD remains incompletely elucidated, substantial evidence indicates that TRPs sense and respond to diverse intestinal luminal stimuli (e.g., bacteria, viruses, and food antigens). They participate in IBD pathophysiology by modulating inflammatory signaling, immune responses, and visceral nociception, thereby contributing to neurogenic inflammation, disruption of the intestinal barrier function, immune and metabolic dysregulation, visceral hypersensitivity, and intestinal fibrosis. Given the pivotal role of TRPs in IBD progression, this review comprehensively elaborates on the structure and function of TRPs associated with IBD, their mechanisms in disease pathology, and recent advances in TRP-targeted therapy for IBD. This article aims to provide insights into the development of innovative treatment strategies for IBD.