Development of a Rapid Throughput Assay for Identification of hNa(v)1.7 Antagonist Using Unique Efficacious Sodium Channel Agonist, Antillatoxin

Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are responsible for the generation of the action potential. Among nine classified VGSC subtypes (Na(v)1.1–Na(v)1.9), Na(v)1.7 is primarily expressed in the sensory neurons, contributing to the nociception transmission. Therefore Na(v)1.7 becomes a promising target for analgesic drug development. In this study, we compared the influence of an array of VGSC agonists including veratridine, BmK NT1, brevetoxin-2, deltamethrin and antillatoxin (ATX) on membrane depolarization which was detected by Fluorescence Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR) membrane potential (FMP) blue dye. In HEK-293 cells heterologously expressing hNa(v)1.7 α-subunit, ATX produced a robust membrane depolarization with an EC(50) value of 7.8 ± 2.9 nM whereas veratridine, BmK NT1, and deltamethrin produced marginal response. Brevetoxin-2 was without effect on membrane potential change. The ATX response was completely inhibited by tetrodotoxin suggesting that the ATX response was solely derived from hNa(v)1.7 activation, which was consistent with the results where ATX produced a negligible response in null HEK-293 cells. Six VGSC antagonists including lidocaine, lamotrigine, phenytoin, carbamazepine, riluzole, and 2-amino-6-trifluoromethylthiobenzothiazole all concentration-dependently inhibited ATX response with IC(50) values comparable to that reported from patch-clamp experiments. Considered together, we demonstrate that ATX is a unique efficacious hNa(v)1.7 activator which offers a useful probe to develop a rapid throughput screening assay to identify hNa(v)1.7 antagonists.