TREK-1 is a heat-activated background K+ channel

Peripheral and central thermoreceptors are involved in sensing ambient and body temperature, respectively. Specialized cold and warm receptors are present in dorsal root ganglion sensory fibres as well as in the anterior/preoptic hypothalamus. The two-pore domain mechano-gated K+ channel TREK-1 is highly expressed within these areas. Moreover, TREK-1 is opened gradually and reversibly by heat. A 10 degrees C rise enhances TREK-1 current amplitude by similar to 7-fold. Prostaglandin E2 and cAMP, which are strong sensitizers of peripheral and central thermoreceptors, reverse the thermal opening of TREK-1 via protein kinase A-mediated phosphorylation of Ser333. Expression of TREK-1 in peripheral sensory neurons as well as in central hypothalamic neurons makes this K+ channel an ideal candidate as a physiological thermoreceptor.