Proinflammatory mediators modulate the heat-activated ion channel TRPV1 via the scaffolding protein AKAP79/150.

The ability of vertebrates to detect and avoid damaging extremes of temperature depends on activation of ion channels belonging to the thermo-TRP family. Injury or inflammation causes the release of inflammatory mediators which lower the threshold for detection of painful levels of heat, a process known as heat hyperalgesia. These inflammatory mediators act by at least three distinct intracellular signaling pathways. Here, we show that modulation of the sensitivity of the heat-activated ion channel TRPV1 by the protein kinases PKA and PKC and by the phosphatase calcineurin depends on the formation of a signaling complex between these enzymes, the scaffolding protein AKAP79/150 and TRPV1. We identify a critical region in the TRPV1 C-terminal which mediates binding of AKAP79/150. If binding is prevented, then sensitization by both bradykinin and PGE(2) is abrogated. AKAP79/150 is therefore a final common element in heat hyperalgesia, on which the effects of multiple proinflammatory mediators converge.