Mechanism of sodium channel NaV1.9 potentiation by G-protein signaling

CG Vanoye, JD Kunic, GR Ehring… - Journal of General …, 2013 - rupress.org
CG Vanoye, JD Kunic, GR Ehring, AL George Jr
Journal of General Physiology, 2013rupress.org
Tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant voltage-gated Na (NaV) channels have been implicated in
nociception. In particular, NaV1. 9 contributes to expression of persistent Na current in small
diameter, nociceptive sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia and is required for
inflammatory pain sensation. Using ND7/23 cells stably expressing human NaV1. 9, we
elucidated the biophysical mechanisms responsible for potentiation of channel activity by G-
protein signaling to better understand the response to inflammatory mediators. Heterologous …
Tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant voltage-gated Na (NaV) channels have been implicated in nociception. In particular, NaV1.9 contributes to expression of persistent Na current in small diameter, nociceptive sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia and is required for inflammatory pain sensation. Using ND7/23 cells stably expressing human NaV1.9, we elucidated the biophysical mechanisms responsible for potentiation of channel activity by G-protein signaling to better understand the response to inflammatory mediators. Heterologous NaV1.9 expression evoked TTX-resistant Na current with peak activation at −40 mV with extensive overlap in voltage dependence of activation and inactivation. Inactivation kinetics were slow and incomplete, giving rise to large persistent Na currents. Single-channel recording demonstrated long openings and correspondingly high open probability (Po) accounting for the large persistent current amplitude. Channels exposed to intracellular GTPγS, a proxy for G-protein signaling, exhibited twofold greater current density, slowing of inactivation, and a depolarizing shift in voltage dependence of inactivation but no change in activation voltage dependence. At the single-channel level, intracellular GTPγS had no effect on single-channel amplitude but caused an increased mean open time and greater Po compared with recordings made in the absence of GTPγS. We conclude that G-protein activation potentiates human NaV1.9 activity by increasing channel open probability and mean open time, causing the larger peak and persistent current, respectively. Our results advance our understanding about the mechanism of NaV1.9 potentiation by G-protein signaling during inflammation and provide a cellular platform useful for the discovery of NaV1.9 modulators with potential utility in treating inflammatory pain.
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