Preclinical Animal Models to Investigate the Role of Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 Ion Channels in Pain

Chronic pain is a maladaptive neurological disease that remains a major global healthcare problem. Voltage-gated sodium channels (Na<sub>v</sub>s) are major drivers of the excitability of sensory neurons, and the Na<sub>v</sub> subtype 1.7 (Na<sub>v</sub>1.7) has...

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Main Authors: Alvaro Yogi, Umberto Banderali, Maria J. Moreno, Marzia Martina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Life
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/4/640
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author Alvaro Yogi
Umberto Banderali
Maria J. Moreno
Marzia Martina
author_facet Alvaro Yogi
Umberto Banderali
Maria J. Moreno
Marzia Martina
author_sort Alvaro Yogi
collection DOAJ
description Chronic pain is a maladaptive neurological disease that remains a major global healthcare problem. Voltage-gated sodium channels (Na<sub>v</sub>s) are major drivers of the excitability of sensory neurons, and the Na<sub>v</sub> subtype 1.7 (Na<sub>v</sub>1.7) has been shown to be critical for the transmission of pain-related signaling. This is highlighted by demonstrations that gain-of-function mutations in the Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 gene SCN9A result in various pain pathologies, whereas loss-of-function mutations cause complete insensitivity to pain. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that chronic neuropathy and inflammation result in an upregulation of Na<sub>v</sub>1.7, suggesting that this channel contributes to pain transmission and sensation. As such, Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 is an attractive human-validated target for the treatment of pain. Nonetheless, a lack of subtype selectivity, insufficient efficacy, and adverse reactions are some of the issues that have hindered Na<sub>v</sub>1.7-targeted drug development. This review summarizes the pain behavior profiles mediated by Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 reported in multiple preclinical models, outlining the current knowledge of the biophysical, physiological, and distribution properties required for a Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 inhibitor to produce analgesia.
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spelling doaj-art-ee6b76a452e94a83bfa59a569199b5da2025-08-20T02:28:15ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-04-0115464010.3390/life15040640Preclinical Animal Models to Investigate the Role of Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 Ion Channels in PainAlvaro Yogi0Umberto Banderali1Maria J. Moreno2Marzia Martina3Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, CanadaHuman Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, CanadaHuman Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, CanadaHuman Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, CanadaChronic pain is a maladaptive neurological disease that remains a major global healthcare problem. Voltage-gated sodium channels (Na<sub>v</sub>s) are major drivers of the excitability of sensory neurons, and the Na<sub>v</sub> subtype 1.7 (Na<sub>v</sub>1.7) has been shown to be critical for the transmission of pain-related signaling. This is highlighted by demonstrations that gain-of-function mutations in the Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 gene SCN9A result in various pain pathologies, whereas loss-of-function mutations cause complete insensitivity to pain. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that chronic neuropathy and inflammation result in an upregulation of Na<sub>v</sub>1.7, suggesting that this channel contributes to pain transmission and sensation. As such, Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 is an attractive human-validated target for the treatment of pain. Nonetheless, a lack of subtype selectivity, insufficient efficacy, and adverse reactions are some of the issues that have hindered Na<sub>v</sub>1.7-targeted drug development. This review summarizes the pain behavior profiles mediated by Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 reported in multiple preclinical models, outlining the current knowledge of the biophysical, physiological, and distribution properties required for a Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 inhibitor to produce analgesia.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/4/640Na<sub>v</sub>1.7painneuropathicinflammatorypre-clinical model
spellingShingle Alvaro Yogi
Umberto Banderali
Maria J. Moreno
Marzia Martina
Preclinical Animal Models to Investigate the Role of Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 Ion Channels in Pain
Life
Na<sub>v</sub>1.7
pain
neuropathic
inflammatory
pre-clinical model
title Preclinical Animal Models to Investigate the Role of Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 Ion Channels in Pain
title_full Preclinical Animal Models to Investigate the Role of Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 Ion Channels in Pain
title_fullStr Preclinical Animal Models to Investigate the Role of Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 Ion Channels in Pain
title_full_unstemmed Preclinical Animal Models to Investigate the Role of Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 Ion Channels in Pain
title_short Preclinical Animal Models to Investigate the Role of Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 Ion Channels in Pain
title_sort preclinical animal models to investigate the role of na sub v sub 1 7 ion channels in pain
topic Na<sub>v</sub>1.7
pain
neuropathic
inflammatory
pre-clinical model
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/4/640
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AT mariajmoreno preclinicalanimalmodelstoinvestigatetheroleofnasubvsub17ionchannelsinpain
AT marziamartina preclinicalanimalmodelstoinvestigatetheroleofnasubvsub17ionchannelsinpain