The TRPM2 gene is highly expressed in the brain and was implicated by both genetic linkage studies in families[1] and then by case control or trio allelic association studies in the genetic aetiology of bipolar affective disorder (Manic Depression).[2][3]
The physiological role of TRPM2 is not well understood. It was shown to be involved in insulin secretion.[4][5] In the immune cells it mediates parts of the responses to TNF-alpha.[6] A role has been suggested for TRPM2 in activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, the dysregulation of which is strongly associated with a number of auto inflammatory and metabolic diseases, such as gout, obesity and diabetes.[7] In the brain it is involved in the toxicity of amyloid beta, a protein associated with Alzheimer's disease.[8]. In 2016, TRPM2 channel was strongly implicated in the detection of non-painful warm stimuli. Chun-Hsiang Tan and Peter McNaughton studied the responses of actual sensory neurons to thermal stimuli, then used an RNA-sequencing strategy to identify TRPM2 as genetically required for warmth detection in the non-noxious range of 33–38 °C.[9]
Structure
The protein encoded by this gene is a non-selective calcium-permeable cation channel and is part of the Transient Receptor Potential ion channel super family. The closest relative is the cold and menthol activated TRPM8 ion channel. While TRPM2 is not cold sensitive it is activated by heat.[4] The TRPM2 ion channel is activated by free intracellular ADP-ribose in synergy with free intracellular calcium.[10] ADP-Ribose is produced to by the enzyme PARP in response to oxidative stress and confers susceptibility to cell death. Several alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene have been described, but their full-length nature is not known.[11]
↑McQuillin A, Bass NJ, Kalsi G, Lawrence J, Puri V, Choudhury K, Detera-Wadleigh SD, Curtis D, Gurling HM (2006). "Fine mapping of a susceptibility locus for bipolar and genetically related unipolar affective disorders, to a region containing the C21ORF29 and TRPM2 genes on chromosome 21q22.3". Molecular Psychiatry. 11 (2): 134–42. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001759. PMID16205735.
↑Xu C, Macciardi F, Li PP, Yoon IS, Cooke RG, Hughes B, Parikh SV, McIntyre RS, Kennedy JL, Warsh JJ (2006). "Association of the putative susceptibility gene, transient receptor potential protein melastatin type 2, with bipolar disorder". American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric Genetics. 141B (1): 36–43. doi:10.1002/ajmg.b.30239. PMID16252251.
↑Miller BA (2006). "The role of TRP channels in oxidative stress-induced cell death". The Journal of Membrane Biology. 209 (1): 31–41. doi:10.1007/s00232-005-0839-3. PMID16685599.
Clapham DE, Julius D, Montell C, Schultz G (2005). "International Union of Pharmacology. XLIX. Nomenclature and structure-function relationships of transient receptor potential channels". Pharmacological Reviews. 57 (4): 427–50. doi:10.1124/pr.57.4.6. PMID16382100.