Research Progress on the Influence of Structural Changes inμ-Conotoxins on Sodium Channel Receptors

The voltage-gated sodium channel(Na v)is widely present in mammals and can generate cell action potentials,which are related to many diseases.Theμ-Conotoxins(μ-CTx)isolated from the venom of cone snails can specifically block the voltage-gated sodium channel;it can be widely used as a necessary probe to distinguish the Na v channel subtypes.In this study,the effects of eightμ-CTx on different Na v channel isoforms were reviewed,and sequence alignment and protein homologous modeling were used to predict their biological activities,and the structure-activity relationship betweenμ-CTx and mutagenesis strategies.

MODELING AND SIMULATION OF E1784K MUTATION AND SODIUM IONIC CHANNEL DISEASES

In the clinical reports, the E1784K mutation in SCN5A is recognized as a phenotypic overlap between the long QT syndrome （LQT3） and the Brugada syndrome （BrS） in the characteristics of electrocardiograms （ECGs） since the mutation can influence sodium channel functions. However it is still unclear if the E1784K mutation-induced sodium ionic channel alterations account for the overlap at tissue level. Thsu, a detailed computational model is developed to underpin the functional impacts of the E1784K mutation on the action potential （AP）, the effective refractory period （ERP） and the abnormal ECG. Simulation results stlggest＇that the E1784K mutation-induced sodium channel alterations are insufficient to produce the phenotypic overlap between LQT3 and BrS, and the overlap may arise from the complicated effects of the E1784K mutation-induced changes in sodium channel currents with an increase of the transient outward current ITo or a decrease of the L-type calcium current ICaL .

Deglycosylation altered the gating properties of rNav1.3:glycosylation/deglycosylation homeostasis probably complicates the functional regulation of voltage-gated sodium channel

Objective To examine the effect of deglycosylation on gating properties of rNav1.3. Methods rNav1.3 was expressed in Xenopus oocyte, with glycosylation inhibition by using tunicamycin. Two-electrode voltage clamp was employed to record the whole-cell sodium current and data were analyzed by Origin software. Those of glycosylated rNav1.3 were kept as control. Results Compared with glycosylated ones, the steady-state activation curve of deglycosylated rNav1.3 was positively shifted by about 10 mV, while inactivation curve was negatively shifted by about 8 mV. Conclusion Glycosylation altered the gating properties of rNav 1.3 and contributed to the functional diversity.

Ligustrazine inhibits high voltage-gated Ca^(2+) and TTX-resistant Na^+ channels of primary sensory neuron and thermal nociception in the rat:a study on peripheral mechanism

Objective Ligustrazine, also named as tetramethylpyrazine, is a compound purified from Ligusticum chuanxiong hort and has ever been testified to be a calcium antagonist. The present investigation was to determine the antinociceptive effect of ligustrazine and, if any, the peripheral ionic mechanism involved. Methods Paw withdrawal Latency （PWL） to noxious heating was measured in vivo and whole-cell patch recording was performed on small dorsal root ganglion （DRG） neurons. Results Intraplantar injection of ligustrazine （0.5 mg in 25 μl） significantly prolonged the withdrawal latency of ipsilateral hindpaw to noxious heating in the rat. Ligustrazine not only reversibly inhibited high-voltage gated calcium current of dorsal root ganglion （DRG） neuron in dose-dependent manner with IC50 of 1.89 mmol/L, but also decreased tetrodotoxin （TTX） -resistant sodium current in relatively selective and dose-dependent manner with IC50 of 2.49 mmol/L. Conclusion The results suggested that ligustrazine could elevate the threshold of thermal nociception through inhibiting the high-voltage gated calcium current and TTX-resistant sodium current of DRG neuron .in the rat.

Effects of Intrathecally Administerd NaV1.8 Antisense Oligonucleotide on the Expression of Sodium Channel mRNA in Dorsal Root Ganglion

Neuropathic pain has been hypothesized to be the result of aberrant expression and function of sodium channels at the site of injury. To investigate the effects of NaV1.8 antisense oligonucleotide on the expression of sodium channel mRNA in dorsal root ganglion （DRG） neurons in chronic neuropathic pain. 24 Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200--260 g were anesthetized with the intraperitoneal injection of 300 mg· kg^-1 choral hydrate. The CCI model was made by loose ligation of sciatic nerve trunk by 4--0 chromic gut. The mechanical and thermal pain threshold were measured before operation and 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 days after operation. A PE-10 catheter was implanted in subarachnoid space at lumbar region. On the 7th postoperative day the animals were randomly divided into 4 groups. The drugs were injected intrathecally twice a day for 5 consecutive days in group 2--4. The animals were decapitated 14 days after the surgery. The L4--L6 DRG of the operated side was removed and crushed, and total RNA was extracted with Trizol reagent. The contralateral side was used as control. The change of NaV1.8 sodium channel transcripts was determined by RT-PCR. Pain threshold was significantly lowered after CCI as compared with that in control group and was elevated 3 days after antisense oligonucleotide injection. Sensory neuron specific TTX-R sodium channel NaV1.8 transcript was down-regulated after antisense oligonucleotide injection at the dosage of 45 μg as compared with that in CCI group （P〈0.01）, and it was even greater at the dosage of 90 μg. The intrathecally injected NaV1.8 antisense oligonucleotide can reduce the mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia partially by downregulating the SNS transcript expression.

Do age-associated changes of voltage-gated sodium channel isoforms expressed in the mammalian heart predispose the elderly to atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation(AF)is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide.The prevalence of the disease increases with age,strongly implying an age-related process underlying the pathology.At a time when people are living longer than ever before,an exponential increase in disease prevalence is predicted worldwide.Hence unraveling the underlying mechanics of the disease is paramount for the development of innovative treatment and prevention strategies.The role of voltage-gated sodium channels is fundamental in cardiac electrophysiology and may provide novel insights into the arrhythmogenesis of AF.Na_v1.5 is the predominant cardiac isoform,responsible for the action potential upstroke.Recent studies have demonstrated that Na_v1.8(an isoform predominantly expressed within the peripheral nervous system)is responsible for cellular arrhythmogenesis through the enhancement of pro-arrhythmogenic currents.Animal studies have shown a decline in Na_v1.5 leading to a diminished action potential upstroke during phase 0.Furthermore,the study of human tissue demonstrates an inverse expression of sodium channel isoforms;reduction of Na_v1.5 and increase of Na_v1.8 in both heart failure and ventricular hypertrophy.This strongly suggests that the expression of voltage-gated sodium channels play a crucial role in the development of arrhythmias in the diseased heart.Targeting aberrant sodium currents has led to novel therapeutic approaches in tackling AF and continues to be an area of emerging research.This review will explore how voltage-gated sodium channels may predispose the elderly heart to AF through the examination of laboratory and clinical based evidence.

Targeting voltage-gated sodium channels for treatment for chronic visceral pain

Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) play a fundamental role in controlling cellular excitability,and their abnormal activity is related to several pathological processes,including cardiac arrhythmias,epilepsy,neurodegenerative diseases,spasticity and chronic pain.In particular,chronic visceral pain,the central symptom of functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome,is a serious clinical problem that affects a high percentage of the world population.In spite of intense research efforts and after the dedicated decade of pain control and research,there are not many options to treat chronic pain conditions.However,there is a wealth of evidence emerging to give hope that a more refined approach may be achievable.By using electronic databases,available data on structural and functional properties of VGSCs in chronic pain,particularly functional gastrointestinal hypersensitivity,were reviewed.We summarize the involvement and molecular bases of action of VGSCs in the pathophysiology of several organic and functionalgastrointestinal disorders.We also describe the efficacy of VGSC blockers in the treatment of these neurological diseases,and outline future developments that may extend the therapeutic use of compounds that target VGSCs.Overall,clinical and experimental data indicate that isoform-specific blockers of these channels or targeting of their modulators may provide effective and novel approaches for visceral pain therapy.

Epigenetics of epithelial Na^+ channel-dependent sodium uptake and blood pressure regulation

The epithelial Na^＋ channel （ENaC） consists of α, β, γ subunits. Its expression and function are regulated by aldosterone at multiple levels including transcription. ENaC plays a key role in Na^＋ homeostasis and blood pressure. Mutations in ENaC subunit genes result in hypertension or hypotension, depending on the nature of the mutations. Transcription of αENaC is considered as the rate-limiting step in the formation of functional ENaC. As an aldosterone target gene, αENaC is activated upon aldosterone- mineralocorticoid receptor binding to the cis-elements in the αENaC promoter, which is packed into chromatin. However, how aldosterone alters chromatin structure to induce changes in transcription is poorly understood. Studies by others and us suggest that Dot1a-Af9 complex represses αENaC by directly binding and regulating targeted histone H3 K79 hypermethylation at the specific subregions of αENaC promoter. Aldosterone decreases Dot1a-Af9 formation by impairing expression of Dot1a and Af9 and by inducing Sgk1, which, in turn, phosphorylates Af9 at S435 to weaken Dot1a-Af9 interaction. MR attenuates Dot1a-Af9 effect by competing with Dot1a for binding Af9. Af17 relieves repression by interfering with Dot1a-Af9 interaction and promoting Dot1a nuclear export. Af17^-/- mice exhibit defects in ENaC expression, renal Na^＋ retention, and blood pressure control. This review gives a brief summary of these novel fndings.

The study of sodium channels involved in pain responses using specific modulators

Voltage-gated sodium channels(VGSCs) are transmembrane proteins responsible for generation and conduction of action potentials in excitable cells.Physiological and pharmacological studies have demonstrated that VGSCs play a critical role in chronic pain associated with tissue or nerve injury.Many long-chain peptide toxins(60-76 amino acid residues) purified from the venom of Asian scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch(BmK) are investigated to be sodium channel-specific modulators.The α-like neurotoxins that can bind to receptor site 3 of sodium channels,named as BmK I and BmK abT,could induce nociceptive effects in rats.On the contrast,the β-like neurotoxins that can bind to receptor site 4 of sodium channels,named as BmK AS,BmK AS-1 and BmK IT2,could produce potent anti-nociceptive effects in animal pain models.BmK I could strongly prolong the fast inactivation of tetrodotoxin(TTX)-sensitive Na+ currents on the rat dorsal root ganglia(DRG) neurons together with the augmentation of peak current amplitude.However,BmK IT2 and BmK ASs,potently suppressed both the peak TTX-resistant and TTX-sensitive Na+ currents on rat small DRG neurons.Moreover,BmK ASs could decrease the excitability of small DRG neurons.Thus,the nociception/anti-nociception induced by scorpion neurotoxins may attribute to their distinct modulation on sodium channels in primary afferent sensory neurons.Therefore,the sodium channel-specific modulators from BmK venom could be used as not only pharmacological tools for better understanding the roles of VGSCs in pain signal conduction,but also lead molecules in the development of ideal analgesics targeting VGSCs.

Research Progress of Sodium Channel and Its Anti-arrhythmic Drugs

With the acceleration of population aging,heart disease has been a high priority,and cardiac ion channel research has been one of the hot spots in the field,Sodium ion channels,as the most important class,have been widely concerned.Therefore,this paper briefly introduces and discusses three aspects of the structure and function of sodium ion channels and the development of drug research.

Effect of orphanin FQ and morphine on sodium channel current in somatosensory area of rat cerebral cortex

BACKGROUND： Some experiments have demonstrated that injecting orphanin FQ （OFQ） into lateral ventricle, which can obviously decrease the pain threshold. It is indicated that OFQ is an anti-opiate substance. However, whether OFQ has effects on sensory neuron ion channel in cerebral cortex needs to be further studied. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of OFQ, morphine or their combination on sodium channel current of somatosensory neurons in rat cerebral cortex. DESIGN： Repeated measurement trial. SETTING： Department of Physiology, Harbin Medical University. MATERIALS： Fifty healthy Wistar rats, aged 12 - 16 days, of either gender, were provided by the Experimental Animal Center, Second Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University. OFQ was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Company, and morphine was provided by the Shenyang First Pharmaceutical Factory. PC2C patch clamp amplifier and LabmasterTLlwere purchased from Yibo Life Science Instrument Co.,Ltd. of Huazhong University of Science and Techgnology. METHODS： This experiment was carried out in the Department of Physiology （provincial laboratory）, Harbin Medical University between January 2005 and May 2006. Cortical neurons were acutely isolated from rats, and prepared into cell suspension following culture. ①Sodium channel current of somatosensory neurons in rat cerebral cortex was recorded before and after administration by whole-cell Patch clamp technique after 50 nmol/L OFQ being added to extracellular fluid. ②The amplitude of sodium channel current of somatosensory neurons in rat cerebral cortex was recorded before and after administration by the same method after 20 μmol/L morphine being added to extracellular fluid, and then the change of sodium channel current was recorded after 50 nmol/L OFQ being added. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The amplitude of sodium channel current of somatosensory neurons in rat cerebral cortex following the administration of OFQ, morphine separately or their combination.. RESULTS： ①The amplitude of sodium channel current of somatosensory neurons in rat cerebral cortex was significantly lower after administration of 50 nmol/L OFQ than before at the clampe of the voltage of -30 mV （P 〈 0.05）.②The amplitude of sodium channel current of somatosensory neurons in rat cerebral cortex was significantly lower after administration of 20 μmol/L morphine than before at the clampe of the voltage of-30 mV （P 〈 0.05）. The sodium channel current recovered to - （2 345.24±174.18） pA after 50 nmol/L OFQ was administrated. There were significant differences in the amplitude of Na^＋ channel current between two interventions （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Morphine and OFQ can respectively reduce the amplitude of sodium channel current of somatosensory neurons in rat cerebral cortex, and OFQ can reverse the effect of morphine partly. It is indicated that OFQ can produce antiopioid activity in the central nervous system by influencing sodium channel current.

The anti-nociceptive effect of bufalin,an active ingredient from toad venom via modulating voltage-gated sodium channels

OBJECTIVE Toad venom(Venenum Bufonis)isalways used for analgesia in China from ancient to modern times,but the effective component of it remains unclear.METHODS In the present study,we investigated the anti-nociceptive effect and the underlying mechanism ofbufalin,an active ingredient fromtoad venom by animal behavior,patch clamp and calcium imaging.RESULTS Bufalin could significantly relieve formalin-induced spontaneous flinching and licking response as well as carrageenan-induced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia.Using the whole-cel patch-clamp recording,bufalincaused remarkable suppressive effect on the peak currents of Na+channels in dorsal root ganglion neuroblastoma ND7-23 cel line in a U-shaped dependent manner.In addition,bufalinprompted the voltage-dependent activationand caused a negative shift of the fast-state inactivation of Na+channels.However,bufalin produced insignificant effect not onlyon voltage-dependent Kv4.2,Kv4.3 and BK channels,but also on the capsaicin induced Ca2+influx.CONCLUSION The present results indicate bufalin is capable of producing remarkable anti-nociceptive effects whichis probably ascribed to its specific modulation of voltage-gated Na+channels.

Effects of tetrodotoxin monoclonal antibody on the blocking action of tetrodotoxin on sodium channels

The effect of tetrodotoxin(TTX) monoclonal antibody (McAb) 8A5 on the blocking action of TTX on sodium channels was studied by using the electrophysiological technique of whole cell recording.We found the specific TTX McAb have the following characterizations: TTX sensitivity to NG108-15 cell was high , with sodium ion current of NG108-15 cell completely blocked by only 10-6 mol/L level of TTX; when the cell was treated with TTX McAb 8A5 for 1 min and 5min, after the sodium current was completely abolished by TTX, the sodium ion current was restored to 79. 44%?. 20% and 73. 89%?. 74% (n=5) of the control values respectively; when the cell was treated for 1 min with 8A5 and TTX which had been mixed for 1 h before added,the sodium ion current was maintained at 89. 21%?. 41% (n=4) of the control. These results indicated that TTX-induced blockage on the sodium ion current could be powerfully antagonized by TTX McAb 8A5 with two distinct administering ways.

Cloning of Partial Sodium Channel Gene From Strains of Fenvalerate-Resistant and Susceptible Cotton Aphid(Aphis gossypii Glover)

The strain of fenvalerate-resistant cotton aphids was selected using fenvalerate insecticide in the laboratory, the resistance factor of the strain was 199.54. Three degenerate primers were designed and used to perform PCR amplification. A cDNA encoding partial sodium channel gene was cloned from the fenvalerate-resistant and -susceptible strains. There were two nucleotide acid differences between fenvalerate-resistant strain and -susceptible strain, resulting in an amino acid mutation, Met→Leu. It is predicted that the mutation is related to the cotton aphid resistance to fenvalerate.

A novel mutation in the sodium channel α1 subunit gene in a child with Dravet syndrome in Turkey

Dravet syndrome is a rare epileptic encephalopathy characterized by frequent seizures beginning in the first year of life and behavioral disorders. Mutations in the sodium channel α1 subunit gene are the main cause of this disease. We report two patients with refractory seizures and psychomotor retardation in whom the final diagnosis was Dravet syndrome with confirmed mutations in the sodium channel α1 subunit gene. The mutation identified in the second patient was a novel frame shift mutation, which resulted from the deletion of five nucleotides in exon 24.

Voltage-gated Sodium Channels and Blockers:An Overview and Where Will They Go?

Voltage-gated sodium(Nav)channels are critical players in the generation and propagation of action potentials by triggering membrane depolarization.Mutations in Nav channels are associated with a variety of channelopathies,which makes them relevant targets for pharmaceutical intervention.Sofar,the cryoelectron microscopic structure of the human Nav 1.2,Nav 1.4,and Nav 1.7 has been reported,which sheds light on the molecular basis of functional mechanism of Nav channels and provides a path toward structure-based drug discovery.In this review,we focus on the recent advances in the structure,molecular mechanism and modulation of Nav channels,and state updated sodium channel blockers for the treatment of pathophysiology disorders and briefly discuss where the blockers may be developed in the future.

A novel frameshift mutation in the beta-subunit of the epithelial sodium channel gene caused Liddle syndrome

Objective To characterize a novel frameshift mutation of the epithelial sodium channel(ENaC)βsubunit in a Chinese family with clinical suspicion of Liddle syndrome.And to emphasize that genetic testing is a confirmatory evidence of the diagnosis of Liddle syndrome.Methods DNA samples from the proband with early-onset,treatment-resistant hypertension and hypokalemia and 31 additional relatives were all sequenced for mutations in exon 13 of theβ-ENaC andγ-ENaC genes,using amplification by polymerase chain reaction and direct DNA sequencing.

PROPERTIES OF VOLTAGE-GATED SODIUM CHANNELS IN DEVELOPING AUDITORY NEURONS OF THE MOUSE IN VITRO

Objective. To investigate the properties of voltage-gated sodium (Na+) channels in developing auditoryneurons during early postnatal stages in the mammalian central nervous system.Methods. Using the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique, we have studied changes in the electrophysi-ological properties of Na+ channels in the principal neurons of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB).Results. We found that MNTB neurons already express functional Na+ channels at postnatal day 1 (P1),and that channel density begins to increase at P5 when the neurons receive synaptic innervation andreach its maximum (～3 fold) at P11 when functional hearing onsets. These changes were paralleled byan age-dependent acceleration in both inactivation and recovery from inactivation. In contrast, there wasvery little alteration in the voltage-dependence of inactivation.Conclusion. These profound changes in the properties of voltage-gated Na+ channels may increase theexcitability of MNTB neurons and enhance their phase-locking fidelity and capacity during high-frequencysynaptic transmission.

Expression of hNav1.8 sodium channel protein in affected nerves of patients with trigeminal neuralgia

Objective: To explore the pathogenesis of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and to provide a new target for the drug treatment of TN by studying the expression of tetrodotoxin-resistant hNav1. 8 sodium channel protein in affected nerves of patients with TN. Methods: Twelve affected inferior alveolar nerves were obtained from patients with idiopathic TN, to whom the drug therapy was not effective. As negative control, one nonnal inferior alveolar nerve was obtained from patients who accepted the combined radical neck dissection with glossectomy and mandibulectomy. One muscle sample was obtained as normal control. One dorsal root ganglion from rat was as positive control. These tissues and prepared hNav1. 8 antibody were conducted immunohistochemistry response. Results: hNav1.8 channel protein was expresses in all the 12 specimens of the affected nerves of patients with TN, but not in the muscle sample and the normal inferior alveolar nerve. Conclusion: The abnormal expression of hNav1. 8 channel protein in the affected nerves of patients with TN may play an important role in the pathogenesis of TN.

Molecular Docking Studies on Anticonvulsant Enaminones Inhibiting Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels

Epilepsy is described as the most common chronic brain disorder. A typical symptom of epilepsy results in uncontrolled convulsions caused by temporary excessive neuronal discharges. Although several new anticon-vulsants have been introduced, some types of seizures have still not been adequately controlled with these new and current therapies. There is an urgent need to develop new anticonvulsant drugs to control the many different types of seizures. Many studies have shown that the epilepsies involve more than one mechanism and therefore may be responsible for the various types of observed seizures. Recently reported studies have shown that a group of newly synthesized 6 Hz active anticonvulsant fluorinated N-benzamide enaminones exhibited selective inhibitions of voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels. Nav channels are responsible for the initial inward currents during the depolarization phases of the action potential in excitable cells. The activation and opening of Nav channels result in the initial phases of action potentials. We hypothesize that there is an essential pharmacophore model for the interactions between these enaminones and the active sites of Nav channels. The research reported here is focused on molecular docking studies of the interactions that occur between the fluorinated N-benzamide enaminones and the Nav channels. These studies may open an avenue for designing anticonvulsant drugs by inhibiting Nav channels.