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Introduction

In central nervous system (CNS) neurons, calcium metabolism, cell energy metabolism secondary to altered cerebral blood flow, mitochondrial content and oxidative metabolism play important roles in the regulation of the neurological status at the cellular and organismal levels (1). Furthermore, age-related impairments ultimately converge to negatively impact cell respiration, which manifests as the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between the production of ROS or reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and the production of antioxidants (2). For this reason, oxidative stress has become the one of the main targets for the treatment of neurological diseases (3).

Ginger (the rhizome of Zingiber officinale) is a popular spice and food supplement, and has been reputed to have medicinal effects for centuries (4,5). Ginger extract is still used traditionally as an herbal medicine due to its analeptic properties, which include antioxidant, anti-lipidemic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-emetic and anticancer effects (6–8). The pungent phytochemicals of ginger consist of [6]-gingerols, zingerone, and [6]-shogaols and these constituents have also been reported to be responsible for most of its pharmacological effects (9,10). Many researchers have studied the antioxidant properties of ginger. It has been reported to exert antioxidant protective effects against Pb-induced hepatotoxicity (11), and to exert significant beneficial effects on sperm viability, motility and serum total testosterone levels due to its antioxidant effects (12). [6]-Shogaol is a novel small molecule activator of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) in PC12 cells, and therefore, it is a potential candidate for the prevention of oxidative stress-mediated neurodegenerative disorders (2). Furthermore, cysteine-conjugated shogaols in ginger have been found to induce apoptosis via an oxidative stress-mediated p53 pathway in human colon cancer cells (13).

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels were first cloned from Drosophila species and constitute a superfamily of proteins that encode a diverse group of Ca2+-permeable non-selective cation channels (NSCCs) (14). Based on their amino acid sequences, the TRP family can be divided into 7 subfamilies, namely TRPC (canonical), TRPM (melastatin), transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A, member 1 (TRPA; ankyrin 1), TRPV (vanilloid), TRPP (polycistin), TRPN (NOMP-C homologues) and TRPML (mucolipin), which are activated by different physical and chemical stimuli (14). In particular, a class of TRP channels has been found to be modulated by ROS/RNS and to control various cellular processes. TRPM2, the first ROS-sensitive TRP channel identified, is activated by H2O2 (15) and H2O2-activated Ca2+ influx through TRPM2 mediates several cellular responses, including cell death (15) and chemokine production in monocytes (16). TRPM7 is activated by ROS/RNS and is an essential mediator of anoxic death (17). In addition to TRPM channels, TRPC5 and TRPV1 are also activated by ROS and nitric oxide (NO) (18). The activation of TRPC5 and TRPV1 involves the oxidative modification of free cystein sulfhydryl groups (18), and the activation of the TRPA1 channel has been shown to occur following oxidative cysteine modification by ROS or RNS (19). TRPA1 is also activated by environmental electrophiles and endogenous electrophilic products of oxidative stress (20,21). However, the effects of ginger and its pungent constituents on TRP channels and the modulatory effects of oxidative stress have not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of ginger and its pungent constituents (Fig. 1) on TRPC5, TRPM7 and TRPA1 channels.

Figure 1 Molecular structure of zingerone, [6]-gingerol and [6]-shogaol.

Materials and methods

Materials

Ginger extract (W252108), zingerone (W312401), [6]-gingerol (G1046), [6]-shogaol (SMB00311) and all other agents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA) and dissolved in distilled water or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) to produce stock solutions, which were stored at −20°C. The final concentrations of DMSO in bath solution were always <0.1%, and we confirmed that at a concentration below 0.1% DMSO did not affect the results. Furthermore, the addition of the above-mentioned chemicals did not alter bath solution pH values. A-967079 (Sigma-Aldrich) was dissolved in DMSO to produce a 10 mmol/l stock solution, which was added to the extracellular bath solution at a final concentration of 10 μM on the day of the experiment for 2 min. Both allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and niflumic acid (both from Sigma-Aldrich) were dissolved in DMSO to produce a 30 mmol/l stock solution, which was added to the extracellular bath solution at a final concentration of 10 μM or 30 μM on the day of the experiment for 4–5 min.

Cell culture

293 cells (ATCC, Manassas, VA, USA) were maintained according to the supplier's recommendations. For transient transfection, the cells were seeded in 12-well plates. 293 cells stably transfected with the mouse TRPC5 (mTRPC5), TRPM7 or human TRPA1 (hTRPA1) expression vectors were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 1% penicillin-streptomycin, 0.02% hygromycin B (for TRPA1), 5 μg/ml blasticidin (for TRPM7), and 0.4 mg/ml zeocin (for TRPM7) (all reagents from Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA, USA) in a humidified 20% O2/10% CO2 atmosphere at 37°C. The cells were sub-cultured every 2–3 days. TRPM7 expression was induced by the addition of 1 μg/ml tetracycline to the culture medium.

Transfection of cells with TRPC5, TRPM7 and TRPA1 expression vectors

For patch clamp experiments, the cells were transferred to 25-cm2 cell culture flasks (Life Technologies) 1 day prior to transfection. The 293 cells were transiently transfected with mammalian expression vectors carrying TRPC5 (pcDNA5), TRPA1 (pcDNA5/FRT) or TRPM7 (pCDNA4-TO) (alll vectors were obtained from Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) using Lipofectamine Plus reagent (Life Technologies) according to the manufacturer's instructions. In all transfection experimetns, the 293 cells were co-transfected with the pEGFP-N1 plasmid (from Clontech, Mountain view, CA, USA) to enable visualization. Experiments were performed within 24–36 h of transfection.

Electrophysiology

The stably 293 cells stably transfected with the TRPC5, TRPM7 or TRPA1 expression vectors were detached from the 25-cm2 filtered culture flask by incubatiion with TrypLE express (Life Technologies) for 2 min. The cells were collected and maintained in a 35-mm2 Petri dish (BD Biosciences, Bedford, MA, USA) in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS at 37°C and 20% O2/10% CO2. An aliquot of cells was allowed to settle in a recording chamber for 5 min before perfusion was initiated. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were obtained using an Axopatch 700B amplifier and pClamp v. 10.4 software, and signals were digitized at 5 kHz using Digidata 1422A (all from Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). The RC-13 bath chamber (Warner Instrument, Hamden, CT, USA) containing cells was perfused with an extracellular bath solution composed of TRPC5 [Tyrode's solution: 135 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 1.8 mM CaCl2, 1 mM MgCl2, 5 mM glucose, 10 mM HEPES adjusted to pH 7.4 with NaOH (Cs+-rich external solution was made by replacing NaCl and KCl with equimolar CsCl)], TRPA1 (150 mM NaCl, 2 mM CaCl2, 1 mM MgCl2, 10 mM HEPES adjusted to pH 7.4 with NaOH) and TRPM7 (145 mM NaCl, 2.8 mM KCl, 2 mM CaCl2, 10 mM glucose, 1.2 mM MgCl2, 10 mM HEPES adjusted to pH 7.4 with NaOH). The pipette solution contained TRPC5 (140 mM CsCl, 10 mM HEPES, 0.5 mM Tris-GTP, 0.5 mM EGTA, 3 mM Mg-ATP adjusted to pH 7.3 with CsOH), TRPM7 [145 mM Cs-glutamate, 8 mM NaCl, 10 mM Cs-2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N=,N=-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA), 10 mM HEPES-CsOH adjusted to pH 7.2 with CsOH] and TRPA1 (150 mM CsCl, 1 mM MgCl2, 10 mM HEPES, 10 mM BAPTA adjusted to pH 7.2 with CsOH). Bath solutions were perfused at 3 ml/min. Patch pipettes were pulled from thin-walled borosilicate glass (World Precision Instruments, Sarasota, FL, USA) using a horizontal Flaming Brown P-1000 micropipette puller (Shutter Instruments, Novato, CA, USA). Pipette tips were fire-polished to a resistance of 2–3 MΩ to facilitate gigaseal formation (Narishige, Tokyo, Japan). Junction potentials were adjusted prior to and pipette capacitances were compensated for electronically following gigaseal formation. Data were saved on a desktop computer and analyzed using Clampfit v. 10.4 (Molecular Devices), Prism v. 6.0 (GraphPad, La Jolla, CA, USA), and Origin v.8.0 (Microcal, Northampton, MA, USA) software. GTPγS was dissolved in DMSO to produce a 1 mol/l stock solution, which was added to the pipette solution at a final concentration of 0.2 mmol/l on the day of the experiment to activate G-proteins.

Statistical analysis

Results are expressed as the means ± standard errors of mean (SEM). N values refer to the number of separate cells examined. Multiple comparison testing was performed by one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni's post hoc comparison. P-values of <0.05 were considered to indicate statistically significant differences.

Results

Effects of ginger extract and its pungent constituents on TRPC5 channels

TRPC5 is activated by the stimulation of endogenous G-proteins by G protein coupled receptor (GPCR, e.g., muscarinic receptor hnd histamine receptor) or GTPγS. To determine whether activated G-proteins activate TRPC5 in 293 cells stably expressing mTRPC5, GTPγS (0.2 mM) was added to the intracellular solution. Whole cell currents were recorded using patch clamp techniques. Initially, whole cell currents were recorded under normal Tyrode's solution. In order to obtain current-voltage (I-V) relationships, we applied a ramp pulse from +100 to −100 mV for 500 msec. In 293 cells stably expressing mTRPC5, TRPC5 currents (ITRPC5) were activated by applying GTPγS intracellularly. When the external solution was changed from normal Tyrode's solution to 140 mM extracellular bath Cs+ solution, ITRPC5 at −100 mV was increased (Fig. 2A). Therefore, ITRPC5 currents were induced repeatedly by applying external Cs+ in the presence of 0.2 mM GTPγS in the pipette solution (Fig. 2A). The I-V relationship in the presence of 140 mM external Cs+ exhibited a typical doubly rectifying shape (Fig. 2B), and the second Cs+-induced ITRPC5 was of similar amplitude to the first (Fig. 2A). Ginger extract inhibited ITRPC5 currents in a concentration-dependent manner (Fig. 2A). After washing out the ginger extract, Cs+ activated ITRPC5 currents, which showed a typical doubly rectifying shape (Fig. 2B). Ginger extract effectively inhibited ITRPC5 currents with an IC50 value of 144.7 μg/ml (Fig. 2C). In order to identify the components of ginger extract responsible for ITRPC5 inhibition, we investigated the effects of the 3 major components of ginger extract, that is, [6]-gingerol, zingerone and [6]-shogaol, using whole-cell patch clamp experiments. Treatment with zingerone or [6]-gingerol at 300 μM (Fig. 3) did not inhibit ITRPC5. The I-V relationships showed a typical doubly rectifying shape (Fig. 3). However, at high concentrations, zingerone and [6]-gingerol inhibited ITRPC5 with IC50 values of 6330.7 μM and 4130.6 μM, respectively (Fig. 3). By contrast, ITRPC5 was strongly and dose-dependently inhibited by [6]-shogaol at concentrations of 10 μM (Fig. 4A), 30 μM (Fig. 4B) or 300 μM (Fig. 4C). The I-V relationships showed a typical doubly rectifying shape (Fig. 4). [6]-shogaol effectively inhibited ITRPC5 with an IC50 value of ~18.3 μM (Fig. 4D). These results suggest that [6]-shogaol is the main factor in ginger extract responsible for ITRPC5 inhibition. However, ginger extract (≤1 mg/ml) had no effects on TRPM7 currents (data not shown). Similarly, treatment with zingerone, [6]-gingerol, or [6]-shogaol at 300 μM had no effect on TRPM7 currents (data not shown). These results indicate that TRPM7 currents are not the main target of ginger extract.

Figure 2 Inhibition of transient receptor potential canonical 5 (TRPC5) by ginger extract. (A) Representative traces showing the ITRPC5 evoked in the presence of 10 μg/ml or 1 mg/ml ginger extract in 293 cells stably expressing TRPC5. (B) Current-voltage (I–V) curves for control (−) and inhibition of ITRPC5 evoked by 1 mg/ml ginger extract (+). (C) Concentration-dependent inhibition of ITRPC5 by ginger extract. The estimated median inhibitory concentration value for ginger extract was 144.7 μg/ml (n=7–10/group).

Figure 3 Effect of zingerone and [6]-gingerol on ITRPC5. Effect of treatment with (A–C) 300 μM zingerone and (D–F) [6]-gingerol on ITRPC5 in 293 cells stably expressing transient receptor potential canonical 5 (TRPC5). (A and D) Representative traces and (B and E) current-voltage (I–V) curves are shown before (−) and after treatment with 100 μM zingerone or [6]-gingerol (+). (C and F) Concentration-dependent inhibition of ITRPC5 by zingerone or [6]-gingerol. The estimated median inhibitory concentration value for zingerone or [6]-gingerol was 6330.7 or 4130.6 μM. (n=8/group).

Figure 4 Inhibition of transient receptor potential canonical 5 (TRPC5) by [6]-shogaol. (A–C) Representative traces showing the ITRPC5 evoked in the presence of (A) 10 μM, (B) 30 μM and (C) 300 μM [6]-shogaol in 293 cells stably expressing TRPC5. Current-voltage (I–V) curve for control (−) and inhibition of ITRPC5 evoked by [6]-shogaol (+) are shown to the right of each trace. (D) Concentration-dependent inhibition of ITRPC5 by [6]-shogaol. The estimated median inhibitory concentration value for [6]-shogaol was 18.3 μM (n=8–10/group).

Effects of ginger extract and its pungent constituents on TRPA1 channels

To determine whether ginger extract activates hTRPA1 channels, we obtained whole-cell patch clamp recordings of 293 cells stably expressing TRPA1. After confirming whole-cell patch formation, we applied a ramp-like pulse protocol from −100 to +100 mV to obtain a current-voltage (I-V) curve from representative traces obtained at each steady-state time-point before [1] and after [2] ginger extract treatment and following treatment with the selective TRPA1 inhibitor, A-967079 [3]. To determine whether TRPA1 channels are functioning well in our transfection system, we performed whole-cell patch clamp with known agonists. The TRPA1 current (ITRPA1) has been shown to be activated by AITC, which is the ingredient of mustard, and non-electrophilic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as niflumic acid (19,20). As shown in Fig. 5, the bath application of 30 μM niflumic acid and 10 μM AITC evoked transient current development, demonstrating that the TRPA1 channel is expressed and functional. We then experimented with ginger. ITRPA1 was evoked immediately after the application of ginger extract to the bath, demonstrating that the TRPA1 channel was activated by the extract (Fig. 6). The applications of 10 μg/ml (Fig. 6A), 30 μg/ml (Fig. 6B), or 100 μg/ml (Fig. 6C) of ginger extract produced concentration-dependent increases in ITRPA1 at both positive and negative potentials. To confirm the stimulatory effects of the extract on TRPA1, the cells were concomitantly treated with A-967079, a selective TRPA1 inhibitor. In the presence of 10 μg/ml of ginger extract, 10 μM A-967079 completely abolished ITRPA1 (Fig. 6A [3]); however, the currents induced by 30 or 100 μg/ml of extract were not fully inhibited by A-967079 at this concentration (Fig. 6B and C [3]) or even at 30 μM (data not shown). The mean current amplitudes evoked at each concentration at −100 mV are shown in Fig. 6D. On the other hand, pre-treatment of the cells with 30 μM A-967079 completely blocked hTRPA1 activation by 30 or 100 μg/ml of ginger extract (Fig. 7). In order to identify the components of ginger extract responsible for the stimulation of ITRPA1, we examined the effects of 3 major components of the extract, that is, [6]-gingerol, zingerone and [6]-shogaol, on ITRPA1 in whole-cell patch clamp experiments. Treatment of the cells with zingerone or [6]-gingerol at a strong depolarizing potential induced ITRPA1; at a concentration of 100 μM, neither of these compounds produced an inward current, but both induced a slight outward current at potentials over +50 mV (Fig. 8), which was inhibited by 10 μM A-967079. The summarized data of ITRPA1 activated by [6]-gingerol or zingerone at −100 and +100 mV is shown in Fig. 8C and F, respectively. Although the ITRPA1 produced at +100 mV by these two compounds were significant, their effects were weak compared to those of whole ginger extract. By contrast, hTRPA1 was strongly activated in a dose-dependent manner by 10 μM (Fig. 9A), 30 μM (Fig. 9B), or 100 μM (Fig. 9C) of [6]-shogaol, and this effect was abolished by the addition of A-967079 to the bath solution. The mean current amplitudes evoked at the different [6]-shogaol concentrations at −100 and +100 mV are shown in Fig. 9D. These results suggest that [6]-shogaol is the main factor in ginger extract responsible for ITRPA1 activation.

Figure 5 Effects of the known TRPA1 agonists, niflumic acid and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), on ITRPA1. (A) Representative traces and I–V curves of ITRPA1 currents evoked by 30 μM niflumic acid in 293 cells stably expressing TRPA1. Recordings for current-voltage (I–V) curves were made of cells treated with niflumic acid [1 and 2]. (B) Representative traces and I–V curves of ITRPA1 currents evoked by 10 μM AITC in 293 cells stably expressing TRPA1. Recordings for I–V curves were made of treated cell with AITC [1].

Figure 6 Activation of hTRPA1 by ginger extract. (A–C) Representative traces showing the ITRPA1 currents evoked in the presence of (A) 10 μg/ml, (B) 30 μg/ml, or (C) 100 μg/ml ginger extract in 293 cells stably expressing TRPA1. Channel activation was confirmed by blocking ITRPA1 with 10 μM A-967079. Current-voltage (I–V) curve for control [1], the steady-state ITRPA1 evoked by 10 μg/ml ginger extract [2], and inhibition of the steady-state ITRPA1 by 10 μM A-967079 [3] are shown to the right of each trace. (D) Summary of mean current amplitudes evoked by control (n=25), 10 μg/ml (n=8), 30 μg/ml (n=9), or 100 μg/ml (n=8) of ginger extract at −100 mV.

Figure 7 hTRPA1 activation by ginger extract was blocked by pre-treatment with A-967069. (A and B) Representative traces and current-voltage (I–V) curves of ITRPA1 currents evoked by (A) 30 μg/ml or (B) 100 μg/ml ginger extract in 293 cells stably expressing TRPA1. Cells were treated with 30 μM A-967079 2 min prior to adding extract. Recordings for I–V curves were made of untreated cells (control 1), cells treated with 30 μM A-967069 (control 2), and cells treated with ginger extract following treatment with 30 μM A-967069 (control 3). Experiments were repeated 3 times.

Figure 8 Effect of [6]-gingerol and zingerone on ITRPA1. Effect of treatment wiht (A–C) 100 μM [6]-gingerol and (D–F) zingerone on ITRPA1 currents in 293 cells stably expressing TRPA1. (A and D) Representative traces and (B and E) I–V curves of cells are shown of untreated cells (control 1), cells treated with 100 μM [6]-gingerol or zingerone (control 2), and cells treated with 100 μM [6]-gingerol or zingerone after 10 μM A-967069 pretreatment (control 3). (C and F) Summary of the mean peak ITRPA1 currents at −100 and +100 mV at each time point. ** P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 vs. the untreated control (n=5/group).

Figure 9 Activation of hTRPA1 by [6]-shogaol. (A–C) Representative traces showing the ITRPA1 currents evoked in the presence of (A) 10 μM, (B) 30 μM or (C) 100 μM [6]-shogaol in 293 cells stably expressing TRPA1. Channel activation was confirmed by blocking ITRPA1 with 10 μM A-967079. Current-voltage (I–V) curve for the untreated control [1], steady-state ITRPA1 evoked by 10 μM [6]-shogaol [2], and inhibition of the steady-state ITRPA1 evoked by 10 μM [6]-shogaol by 10 μM A-967079 pre-treatment [3] are shown to the right of each trace. (D) Summary of mean current amplitudes evoked in untreated control cells (n=33) and in 10 μM (n=10), 30 μM (n=10), or 100 μM (n=9) [6]-shogaol-treated cells at −100 and + 100 mV.

Discussion

Ginger is a medicinal plant that has been widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of arthritis, catarrh, rheumatism, nervous diseases, gingivitis, toothache, asthma, stroke, constipation, indigestion, vomiting, hypertension, dementia and diabetes (8,22–24). Ginger is also one of the most commonly used pungents and aromatic spices and adds a special flavor and zest to food (6,8,25). Ginger contains numerous active compounds which vary significantly between plant varieties and geographic regions. More than 60 active constituents are known to be present in ginger. Phytochemical reports have demonstrated that the main constituents of ginger are gingerols, zingerone and shogaols (26,27). [6]-Gingerol and [6]-shogaol are the major gingerol and shogaol present in ginger (27,28). Zingerone is produced during the drying of ginger and by the thermal degradation of gingerols or shogaols (29). The pharmacological actions of ginger and of its component compounds include immunomodulatory, anti-tumorigenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-lipidemic and anti-emetic effects (6–8). In addition, ginger is a potent antioxidant and may mitigate or prevent free radical generation (2,8,11–13).

Several authors have demonstrated that ginger has strong in vitro and in vivo antioxidant properties. The antioxidant action of ginger has been proposed to underlie its protective effects against radiation (8,30,31) and a number of toxic agents, such as carbon tetrachloride and cisplatin (8,32,33), and its efficacy as an anti-ulcer treatment (34). Among its compounds, 6-gingerol is an effective agent at preventing ultra violet B (UVB)-induced ROS production and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression, and therefore, 6-gingerol may have antioxidant effects in vivo, in addition to potent anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects (8,35). 6-Shogaol effectively scavenges various free radicals in vitro, and displays marked cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress-induced cell damage by activating the Nrf2 gene in a neuron-like rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12 cells) (2).

Ion channels play critical roles during essential physiological functions, such as muscle contraction, hormone secretion and neuroprotection (36), and ion channel defects lead to a variety of diseases, including cancer (37,38). Previous studies have revealed that TRP channels are associated with cell proliferation, apoptosis and cancer development (39,40). These channels are NSCCs, and were initially cloned from Drosophila melanogaster. All TRP channels possess putative six-transmembrane spanning domains. The various gating mechanisms of TRP channels play crucial roles in their pathologic and physiologic functions (41–44). Recent studies have revealed that multiple TRP channels sense reactive species and induce diverse physiological and pathological responses, such as cell death, chemokine production and pain transduction (45). TRP channels sense reactive species either indirectly through second messengers or directly via oxidative modification of cysteine residues. The redox-sensitive TRP channels are TRPC5, TRPM7, TRPA1, TRPV1 and TRPM2 (45). TRPC5 is directly activated by H2O2 and the NO donor, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine, via cysteine modification (46). In endothelial cells, native TRPC5 is likely to be activated by NO generated by endothelial-type NO synthase (18). The redox modification of cysteine residue sulfhydryl groups has emerged as an important elementary step in the signal transduction cascades that underlie many physiological responses (47). In a previous study, NO-activated TRPC5 channels were significantly, but not entirely suppressed by ascorbate, which reduces S-nitrosothiols (but not disulfides) to thiols, but dithiothreitol (DTT), which reduces both S-nitrosothiols and disulfides to thiols, fully suppressed NO-activated TRPC5 channel activity (45). The authors suggested that both nitrosylation and disulfide bond formation are likely to be involved in NO-induced TRPC5 activation (45). ROS and RNS can serve as activators of cation conductance through TRPM7, and thus contribute to anoxic neuronal death (17). It has been proposed that during the oxygen or glucose deprivation of primary cortical neurons, a Ca2+-permeable non-selective cation conductance mediated by TRPM7 is activated by ROS/RNS and is primarily responsible for neuronal death (17). This is supported by the observation that ROS/RNS are able to enhance TRPM7-mediated inward currents in TRPM7-transfected 293 cells. In addition, in primary neurons, it appears that the electrophysiological properties of currents activated by oxygen- and glucose deprivation, including currents enhanced by low Mg2+ and inhibited by high Mg2+, are characteristic of TRPM7 and are not shared by TRPM2 (17). Furthermore, the suppression of TRPM7 expression in primary cortical neurons blocked TRPM7 currents, Ca2+ influx and ROS production, protecting cells from anoxic cell death (17,45). TRPA1 is also modified via oxidative cysteine modification by ROS and RNS. TRPA1 is activated by ROS/RNS, such as, hypo-chlorite (OCl−) (48), H2O2 (19), NO (19), ozone (O3) (49) and ONOO− (50). Redox-sensitive TRP channels are ubiquitous and participate in ROS-dependent cellular functions, including cell death, chemokine production and ROS detection, but novel roles are emerging in the contexts of ischemia/reperfusion, neurodegeneration, mental illness, vascular hyperpermeability and itch sensation (51–54). Considering the ubiquitous nature of TRP channels and ROS/RNS production, it is conceivable that TRP channel redox sensitivity may also participate in other as yet unidentified biological phenomena. Thus, the characterization of the in vivo functions of ROS-sensitive TRP channels under physiological and pathological conditions is a fertile field for exploration (45).

In the present study, we investigated the effects of ginger and its pungent constituents on the redox-sensitive TRP channels, TRPC5, TRPM7 and TRPA1 and, to the best of our knowledge, present the results of the first electrophysiological study undertaken to explore the modulatory effects of ginger and some of its constituents on these TRP channels. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, we found that TRPC5 and TRPA1 currents were modulated by ginger extract and by [6]-gingerols, zingerone and [6]-shogaols. Above all, [6]-shogaol markedly inhibited TRPC5 currents in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of ~18.3 μM. On the other hand, [6]-shogaol strongly activated TRPA1 currents in a dose-dependent manner and its effect was abolished by the addition of A-967079 (a selective TRPA1 inhibitor). However, ginger extract, [6]-gingerols, zingerone and [6]-shogaols, had no effects on TRPM7 currents. Therefore, it seems that [6]-shogaol plays an important role in the regulation of TRPC5 and TRPA1 currents. However, there was no direct investigation of the effects of the ginger extract components on the oxidant-induced ion channel current changes and therefore, these results are only the pharmacological effects of ginger and its pungent constituents on the variety of TRP channels. In the future in further investigations, we aim to apply these results on oxidant-induced ion channels on single cells from tissues.

[6]-Shogaol is one of the phenolic alkanones isolated from ginger that exhibits significant anti-proliferative activity in various cancer cell lines (55,56). In addition, [6]-shogaol induces cell death through oxidative stress-mediated caspase activation (57). In particular, [6]-shogaol has been reported to induce the apoptosis of human colorectal carcinoma cells via ROS production and caspase activation (58). In addition, [6]-shogaol has been shown to induce autophagy in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells by inhibiting the Akt/mTOR pathway (55). Although a number of studies have addressed the activity of [6]-shogaol, in this study, we suggest that [6]-shogaol has potent antioxidant effects on TRP channels. In addition, [6,8,10]-shogaols have differences in the length of the alkyl carbon chain and increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration in rat TRPV1-expressing 293 cells. In this regard, shogaols are more potent than gingerols (59). Both [6]-gingerol and [8]-gingerol evoke capsaicin-like Ca2+ transients and ion currents in DRG neurons, with both effects being sensitive to the action of capsazepine (60). Aversive responses were shown to be induced by [6]- and [10]-gingerol, and [6]-shogaol in rats when these compounds were applied to the eyes; however, no response was observed in response to [10]-shogaol. [10]-Shogaol induced nociceptive responses via TRPV1 in rats following its subcutaneous injection into the hindpaw (61, and refs. therein). In addition, [6]-shogaol induces Ca2+ signals in β-cells by activating the TRPV1 channels, and it sensitizes β-cells to stimulation by glucose (62). Therefore, gingerols and shogaols function as activators of the TRPV1 channel. Furthermore, the effects of shogaol may be the electrophilic conjugation to the thiol residues of the tested TRP channels. The chemical structure of shogaol (Fig. 1) shows an electrophilic α-β-unsaturated carbonyl group, which may produce Michael adduct formation with the channels. As the same mechanism responses on ion channels as shogaol, there are curcumin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE). Curcumin and CAPE have been shown to inhibit Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ channel (CRAC) current in Orai1/STIM1-co-expressing 293 cells (63,64) and the electrophilic addition to the Orai1 195Cys was responsible for the inhibitory effect of Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ current by curcumin and CAPE (65).

Taken together, the findings of our study suggest that ginger extract exerts antioxidant effects on TRPC5 and TRPA1 channels, and that its pungent constituent, [6]-shogaol is primarily responsible for the regulation of TRPC5 and TRPA1 currents. In view of the effects of the redox sensitivity of TRP channels on various pathological and biological phenomena, future studies are warranted to confirm that TRP channel regulation by ginger and its pungent constituents is of pharmacological importance in vivo.

Acknowledgments

The present study was supported by the a Korean National Research Foundation (NRF) grant funded by the Korea Government (MSIP) (no. 2014R1A5A2009936)

References