The novel SCN9A mutation in familial erythromelalgia lowers action potential thresholds and induces high-frequency firing in sensory neurons.
This study provides the first evidence linking an inherited pain disorder (erythromelalgia) to a specific ion channel mutation (SCN9A/Nav1.7) that alters the firing of pain-signaling neurons.
Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%
Erythromelalgia is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by burning pain in response to warm stimuli or moderate exercise. We describe a novel mutation in a family with erythromelalgia in SCN9A, the gene that encodes the Na(v)1.7 sodium channel. Na(v)1.7 produces threshold currents and is selectively expressed within sensory neurons including nociceptors. We demonstrate that this mutation, which produces a hyperpolarizing shift in activation and a depolarizing shift in steady-state inactivation, lowers thresholds for single action potentials and high frequency firing in dorsal root ganglion neurons. Erythromelalgia is the first inherited pain disorder in which it is possible to link a mutation with an abnormality in ion channel function and with altered firing of pain signalling neurons.
Dib‐Hajj et al. (Wed,) reported a other. The novel SCN9A mutation in familial erythromelalgia lowers action potential thresholds and induces high-frequency firing in sensory neurons.
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