Turning up the Heat on Pain: TRPV1 Receptors in Pain and Inflammation Vanilloids mediate their effects by selective agonism of an ion channel the vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1). TRPV1 is a ligand gated non selective cation channel preferentially expressed in small diameter primary afferent neurons including nociceptive sensory nerves. In addition to be activated by capsaicin and related vanilloids TRPV1 responds to heat and extracellular acidification and will integrate simultaneous exposures to these stimuli. The aim of this book is to summarize recent insights in the role of TRPV1 in pain and inflammation and to discuss how modulation of this receptor ma