To investigate changes in corneal nerves positive to substance P (SP) and transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) and gene expression in the trigeminal ganglia (TG) following corneal surgery to unveil peripheral nerve mechanism of induced dry eye-like pain (DELP).
We found that TRPM8 is a pharmacological target of tacrolimus (FK506), a macrolide immunosuppressant with several clinical uses, including the treatment of organ rejection following transplants, treatment of atopic dermatitis, and dry eye disease.
It has been revealed that TRPM8 activation leads to a decline in TRPV1 activity, which may be of therapeutic benefit in clinical circumstances such as treatment of TRPV1-mediated inflammatory hyperalgesia, colitis, and dry eye syndrome.