Abstract
Transient receptor potential vanilloid1 (TRPV1) was primarily expressed in sensory neurons, and could be activated by various physical and chemical factors, resulting in the flow of extracellular Ca(2+) into cells. Accumulating data suggest that the TRPV1 is expressed in some immune cells and is a novel regulator of the immune system. In this review, we highlight the structure and biological features of TRPV1 channel. We also summarize recent findings on its role in modulating T cell activation and differentiation as well as its protective effect in T cell-mediated inflammatory diseases and potential mechanisms.