Voltage-gated sodium channels and pain-related disorders.
Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are heteromeric transmembrane protein complexes. Nine homologous members, SCN1A-11A, make up the VGSC gene family. Sodium channel isoforms display a wide range of kinetic properties endowing different neuronal types with distinctly varied firing properties. Among the VGSCs isoforms, Nav1.7, Nav1.8 and Nav1.9 are preferentially expressed in the peripheral nervous system. These isoforms are known to be crucial in the conduction of nociceptive stimuli with mutations in these channels thought to be the underlying cause of a variety of heritable pain disorders. This review provides an overview of the current literature concerning the role of VGSCs in the generation of pain and heritable pain disorders.
Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K. alexandros.kanellopoulos.13@ucl.ac.uk.
Alexandros H
AH
Kanellopoulos
Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K.
Ayako
A
Matsuyama
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D005810:Multigene Family; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010146:Pain / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D061566:Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D061566:Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels
Nav1.7; heritable disorders; pain; voltage-gated sodium channels