TY - JOUR T1 - Use-Dependent Block by Lidocaine but Not Amitriptyline Is More Pronounced in Tetrodotoxin (TTX)-Resistant Na<sub>v</sub>1.8 Than in TTX-Sensitive Na<sup>+</sup> Channels JF - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO - J Pharmacol Exp Ther SP - 354 LP - 364 DO - 10.1124/jpet.106.109025 VL - 320 IS - 1 AU - Andreas Leffler AU - Anne Reiprich AU - Durga P. Mohapatra AU - Carla Nau Y1 - 2007/01/01 UR - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/320/1/354.abstract N2 - The excitability of sensory neurons depends on the expression of various voltage-gated Na+ channel isoforms. The tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTXr) Na+ channel Nav1.8 accounts for the electroresponsiveness of nociceptive neurons and contributes to inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Na+ channel blockers are clinically employed for chronic pain management, but side effects limit their use. There is conflicting information whether their potency to block tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTXs) and TTXr Na+ channels differs. We analyzed the action of lidocaine and amitriptyline on TTXr Nav1.8 heterologously expressed in ND7/23 cells in comparison with TTXs Na+ channels endogenously expressed in ND7/23 cells. TTXr Nav1.8 and TTXs currents were investigated under whole-cell voltage-clamp. At a holding potential of –80 mV, lidocaine was 5-fold and amitriptyline 8-fold more potent to tonically block TTXs than Nav1.8 currents. This was due to a higher percentage of TTXs channels residing in the inactivated, high-affinity state at this potential. Tonic block of either resting or inactivated channels by lidocaine or amitriptyline revealed little differences between TTXs and Nav1.8 channels. Use-dependent block by amitriptyline was similar in TTXs and Nav1.8 channels. Surprisingly, use-dependent block by lidocaine was more pronounced in Nav1.8 than in TTXs channels. This result was confirmed in dorsal root ganglion neurons and is associated with the greater tendency of Nav1.8 to enter a slow inactivated state. Our data suggest that lidocaine could selectively block Nav1.8-mediated action potential firing. It is conceivable that the expression pattern of Na+ channels in sensory neurons might influence the efficiency of Na+ channel blockers used for chronic pain management. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics ER -