[Progress of research on corneal transient receptor potential channel superfamily].

Cornea senses thermal, mechanical and chemical stimuli via various nociceptors. In the early years, knowledge of the mechanism of corneal nociception was merely restricted to neurophysiology, which classifies nociceptors according to the clusters of nerve fibers which transmit identical stimulation signals. During the past decade, benefiting from the promptly developing molecular biology and technology, classification of the nociceptors has been modified into the level of cell sensors, among which, transient receptor potential (TRP) channel superfamily weighs the most. Researches have shown that there are a couple of TRP superfamily members expressed in cornea, which play major roles in the process of corneal pain, neurotrophic keratopathy, epithelial wound healing and immuno-inflammation. Some TRPs have even been recognized as targets of management of keratopathy.