Effect of cholesterol on temperature activation of TRPV1

The cholesterol content of the cell membrane shows an important role for physical properties of the membrane and also affects the functions of some ion channels. This thesis focuses on how the cholesterol content of the cell membrane effects the temperature activation of the TRPV1 ion channel. TRPV1 is a temperature activated ion channel, which acts as a heat pain sensor in peripheral nervous system and also plays an important role in inflammatory pain sensing (heat hyperalgesia). Results showed that untreated cells were activated at about 42C which confirmed the results from other studies, whereas the activation temperatures of cholesterol depleted and enriched cells were both significantly increased. This suggests that the effect of cholesterol on temperature activation of TRPV1 ion channel either might be direct or indirect.