Sodium Channels & Arthritis Pain
A subset of arthritis patients suffer from neuropathic pain arising from damage to joint nerves. Some of the main targets of these injured nerves are the voltage gated sodium channels NaV1.7 and NaV1.8.
The McDougall Lab has found that opening of NaV1.8 channels causes joint pain. We have shown that blocking NaV1.8 reduces joint pain, especially in females.
Relevant Publications:
Targeting The NaV1.8 ion Channel Engenders Sex-Specific Responses in Lysophosphatidic Acid-Induced Joint Neuropathy. MS O'Brien, HP Philpott & JJ McDougall. Pain. (2019)
Involvement of NaV 1.8 sodium ion channels in the transduction of mechanical pain in a rodent model of osteoarthritis. N Schuelert & JJ McDougall. Arthritis Research & Therapy. (2012)