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26 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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TRPM8
transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8
Chromosome 2 · 2q37.1
NCBI Gene: 79054Ensembl: ENSG00000144481.17HGNC: HGNC:17961UniProt: A0A0C4DFT0
193PubMed Papers
20Diseases
3Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Ion ChannelTransporter
RESEARCH IMPACT
Trending
CLINICAL
FDA Approved Target
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
plasma membraneprotein bindingcalcium ion transmembrane transportligand-gated calcium channel activityPainCoughBack painarthritis
✦AI Summary

TRPM8 is a non-selective cation channel that functions as a primary cold and menthol sensor in peripheral sensory neurons 1. The channel is activated by menthol, a selective TRPM8 agonist, and by cold temperatures, allowing calcium and other cation influx across the plasma membrane 2. TRPM8 exhibits desensitization through direct calcium binding, which stabilizes a nonconducting state and mediates sensory adaptation to sustained cold or menthol exposure 34. Beyond thermoreception, TRPM8 contributes to multiple physiological processes including pain modulation and tear production 5. As a topical agent, menthol acts through TRPM8 activation to desensitize nociceptors, providing analgesia for various painful conditions 2. TRPM8 dysfunction is implicated in cold allodynia, migraine pathogenesis (particularly in meningeal afferents), dry eye disease, and prostate cancer 61. Genome-wide association studies have linked TRPM8 variants to migraine susceptibility 6. Clinically, TRPM8 agonists show therapeutic promise: acoltremon, a TRPM8 agonist, was FDA-approved in 2025 for dry eye disease treatment by increasing tear production 7. Conversely, TRPM8 antagonists may benefit cold hypersensitivity and certain pain disorders, suggesting personalized therapeutic approaches depending on the underlying pathophysiology 1.

Sources cited
1
TRPM8 is a non-selective cation channel and functions as a cellular sensor in physiological processes including thermoreception
PMID: 37853091
2
Menthol is a selective TRPM8 activator that produces analgesia through nociceptor stimulation and desensitization
PMID: 29524352
3
Direct calcium binding mediates TRPM8 desensitization and conformational changes between closed and desensitized states
PMID: 31488702
4
TRPM8 desensitization is mediated by intrinsic channel properties and represents sensory adaptation to cold and menthol
PMID: 39093967
5
GWAS studies implicate TRPM8 in migraine; TRPM8 is expressed on meningeal sensory afferents and may contribute to migraine pathogenesis
PMID: 27634619
6
TRPM8 is a cold- and menthol-activated channel implicated in pain, prostate cancer, dry eye disease, and metabolic disorders
PMID: 24756721
7
Acoltremon, a TRPM8 agonist, was FDA-approved in 2025 for dry eye disease by activating TRPM8 receptors to increase tear production
PMID: 40571589
Disease Associationsⓘ20
PainOpen Targets
0.70Strong
CoughOpen Targets
0.60Moderate
Back painOpen Targets
0.60Moderate
arthritisOpen Targets
0.59Moderate
pharyngitisOpen Targets
0.59Moderate
common coldOpen Targets
0.59Moderate
sprainOpen Targets
0.59Moderate
PruritusOpen Targets
0.58Moderate
HeadacheOpen Targets
0.58Moderate
Nasal congestionOpen Targets
0.56Moderate
MyalgiaOpen Targets
0.55Moderate
sunburnOpen Targets
0.55Moderate
migraine disorderOpen Targets
0.52Moderate
injuryOpen Targets
0.50Moderate
herpes labialisOpen Targets
0.50Moderate
Oral ulcerOpen Targets
0.50Moderate
burnOpen Targets
0.46Moderate
frozen shoulderOpen Targets
0.46Moderate
asthmaOpen Targets
0.38Weak
osteoarthritisOpen Targets
0.37Weak
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Drug Targets3
D-3263Phase I
Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8 agonist
ELISMETREPPhase II
Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8 inhibitor
diabetic neuropathy
MENTHOLApproved
Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8 opener
pharyngitis
Related Genes
TRPV1Protein interaction98%TRPV2Protein interaction98%TRPV4Protein interaction98%KNG1Protein interaction93%NUDT9Protein interaction92%NGFProtein interaction92%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Liver
100%
Brain
91%
Ovary
0%
Lung
0%
Bone Marrow
0%
Heart
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
TRPM8TRPV1TRPV2TRPV4KNG1NUDT9NGF
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB8BDC · 2.65 Å · EM
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.94LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.79 [0.66–0.94]
RankingsWhere TRPM8 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #2,228of 20,598
    Most Researched193 · top quartile
  • #872of 1,025
    FDA-Approved Drug Targets1
  • #8,811of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.94
Genes detectedTRPM8
Sources retrieved26 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
26▼
1
TRPM channels in health and disease.
PMID: 37853091
Nat Rev Nephrol · 2024
1.00
2
The role and mechanism of action of menthol in topical analgesic products.
PMID: 29524352
J Clin Pharm Ther · 2018
0.90
3
Mechanisms of sensory adaptation and inhibition of the cold and menthol receptor TRPM8.
PMID: 39093967
Sci Adv · 2024
0.80
4
The Role and Function of TRPM8 in the Digestive System.
PMID: 39062591
Biomolecules · 2024
0.72
5
TRPM8 and Migraine.
PMID: 27634619
Headache · 2016
0.70