Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Nav1.7 , Nav1.8

Title: Painful Na-channelopathies: an expanding universe.

Authors: Stephen G Waxman

Journal, date & volume: Trends Mol Med, 2013 Jul , 19, 406-9

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23664154

Abstract
The universe of painful Na-channelopathies--human disorders caused by mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels--has recently expanded in three dimensions. We now know that mutations of sodium channels cause not only rare genetic 'model disorders' such as inherited erythromelalgia and channelopathy-associated insensitivity to pain but also common painful neuropathies. We have learned that mutations of NaV1.8, as well as mutations of NaV1.7, can cause painful Na-channelopathies. Moreover, recent studies combining atomic level structural models and pharmacogenomics suggest that the goal of genomically guided pain therapy may not be unrealistic.