Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics Modulate TRPV1 Channel Activation via Tissue Entropy Production

Abstract

Inflammatory processes involve complex interactions between molecular signaling and biophysical mechanisms, yet the thermodynamic consequences of such processes remain underexplored. Here, we present a theoretical multiscale model that demonstrates how elevated entropy production in inflamed tissue environments modulates the activation threshold of TRPV1 thermosensitive ion channels. Our framework integrates axonal electrophysiology based on the Hodgkin-Huxley formalism, thermodynamic heat transfer with explicit entropy generation, and a dynamic model of TRPV1 channel gating. Simulations reveal that increased entropy production leads to a downward shift in the activation temperature of TRPV1 channels, driven by cumulative non-equilibrium thermodynamic effects. This result provides a mechanistic explanation for the enhanced excitability of sensory axons in inflamed tissue and highlights entropy production as a fundamental physical variable influencing ion channel behavior. The study contributes a novel perspective on the coupling between thermodynamics and sensory transduction at the cellular level.