Cellular Cold Perception

Cold perception at the cellular level involves specific mechanisms and pathways that allow the cells to directly detect and respond to variations in temperatures. There are specific receptors involved in cellular cold perception: the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, a family of different receptor variants, with a particular role for TRPM8 and TRPA1 variants. The TRP channels are ion channels expressed in membranes of various cell types, first sensory/neural cells and also in various types of nonneuronal cells. The discovery of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels can be traced back to the late twentieth century. In this chapter, the history of TRP channel receptor identification and the most recent advances in their role in cold perception at the cellular level will be discussed, focusing on TRPM8 and TRPA1 variants, their involvement in energy homeostasis, and their promising role in metabolic pathway regulations.