Initially identified as a capsaicin receptor and heat-activated ion channel that modulates pain and neurogenic inflammation (Caterina et al., 1997), subsequent studies have found that TRPV1 is expressed on many non-neural sites and plays roles in immunity, vasculature, obesity, and thermogenesis (Fernandes et al., 2012). This evidence concerns the gene TRPV1 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.