Transient receptor potential vanilloid 3 (TRPV3)

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 3 (TRPV3) is a **Ca²⁺-permeable non-selective cation channel** that is primarily expressed in skin keratinocytes but is also present in other organs such as the brain, colon, testis, heart, lung, and liver[2][4][5]. It functions as a **temperature-sensitive sensor** involved in the perception of warm temperatures, **mediates Ca²⁺ signaling** essential for skin physiology (including barrier formation, wound healing, and hair growth), and participates in **pain and itch sensation**, making it a prominent therapeutic target for skin-related disorders such as pruritus, atopic dermatitis, and Olmsted syndrome[2][5]. Structurally, TRPV3 is a tetrameric channel (with occasional pentameric assemblies under specific conditions), composed of six transmembrane domains per subunit and belonging to the broader TRP channel superfamily[2][6][8]. Numerous modulators (natural and synthetic) have been identified, with ongoing efforts to develop selective TRPV3 agonists and antagonists for therapeutic use[2][3][4]. Dysregulation of TRPV3 activity has been linked to inflammatory skin diseases, chronic itching, and the pathophysiology of certain cancers[2][3].

Other names

TRPV3Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 3Transient receptor potential vanilloid 3 channel

Agonists bind to distinct sites, causing conformational changes that open the cation channel and allow Ca²⁺ influx, mediating downstream signaling[4]. Inhibitors such as osthole competitively block agonist sites or induce non-conducting conformations, reducing activity and associated responses such as itching or cell proliferation[3]. Some agents induce unique channel states, such as DPBA-induced pore dilation, leading to altered ion permeability[6].