Voltage-gated Na+ channels: potential for beta subunits as therapeutic targets.
BACKGROUND
Voltage gated Na(+) channels (VGSCs) contain a pore-forming alpha subunit and one or more beta subunits. VGSCs are involved in a wide variety of pathophysiologies, including epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmia, multiple sclerosis, periodic paralysis, migraine, neuropathic and inflammatory pain, Huntington's disease and cancer. Increasing evidence implicates the beta subunits as key players in these disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To review the recent literature describing the multifunctional roles of VGSC beta subunits in the context of their role(s) in disease.


METHODS
An extensive review of the literature on beta subunits.


CONCLUSIONS
beta subunits are multifunctional. As components of VGSC complexes, beta subunits mediate signaling processes regulating electrical excitability, adhesion, migration, pathfinding and transcription. beta subunits may prove useful in disease diagnosis and therapy.
Brackenbury
William J
WJ
University of Michigan, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, 1150 W. Medical Center Dr, 1301 MSRB III, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0632, USA.
Isom
Lori L
LL
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D021122:Protein Subunits; D015222:Sodium Channels
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D021122:Protein Subunits; D015222:Sodium Channels