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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
7121
pubmed:dateCreated
2006-12-14
pubmed:databankReference
pubmed:abstractText
The complete inability to sense pain in an otherwise healthy individual is a very rare phenotype. In three consanguineous families from northern Pakistan, we mapped the condition as an autosomal-recessive trait to chromosome 2q24.3. This region contains the gene SCN9A, encoding the alpha-subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel, Na(v)1.7, which is strongly expressed in nociceptive neurons. Sequence analysis of SCN9A in affected individuals revealed three distinct homozygous nonsense mutations (S459X, I767X and W897X). We show that these mutations cause loss of function of Na(v)1.7 by co-expression of wild-type or mutant human Na(v)1.7 with sodium channel beta(1) and beta(2) subunits in HEK293 cells. In cells expressing mutant Na(v)1.7, the currents were no greater than background. Our data suggest that SCN9A is an essential and non-redundant requirement for nociception in humans. These findings should stimulate the search for novel analgesics that selectively target this sodium channel subunit.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
1476-4687
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:day
14
pubmed:volume
444
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
894-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2010-4-29
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2006
pubmed:articleTitle
An SCN9A channelopathy causes congenital inability to experience pain.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome/MRC Building, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't