title: Neurological perspectives on voltage-gated sodium channels.
abstract: The activity of voltage-gated sodium channels has long been linked to disorders of neuronal excitability such as epilepsy and chronic pain. Recent genetic studies have now expanded the role of sodium channels in health and disease, to include autism, migraine, multiple sclerosis, cancer as well as muscle and immune system disorders. Transgenic mouse models have proved useful in understanding the physiological role of individual sodium channels, and there has been significant progress in the development of subtype selective inhibitors of sodium channels. This review will outline the functions and roles of specific sodium channels in electrical signalling and disease, focusing on neurological aspects. We also discuss recent advances in the development of selective sodium channel inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. n.eijkelkamp@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eijkelkamp
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Linley
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Minett
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cregg
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Werdehausen
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rugiero
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D015222:Sodium Channels