Merck, MABN41, Anti-Sodium channel Nav1.7 Antibody, clone N68/6

Voltage-gated sodium channel subunit alpha Nav1.7 (Nav1.7) is a multi-pass membrane protein containing a single IQ domain that belongs to the sodium channel family. NAV1.7 localizes to the terminal ends of sensory neurons and is believed to have a role in inflammatory pain development and mechanisms. It serves to regulate excitable membrane voltage-dependent Na+ ion permeability. There is a strong probability that Nav1.7 is involved in the transmission of nociceptive information, a suggested involvement supported by its role in a variety of chronic pain neuropathies induced by damage to the peripheral nerves. Nav1.7 is predominantly observed in dorsal root ganglion, and sensory and sympathetic neurons. Lower levels of the protein have been observed in MTC cell line, C-cell carcinoma, and smooth muscle cells. Defects in Nav1.7 expression are causal to several diseases such as autosomal recessive congenital indifference pain, primary erythermalgia, and paroxysmal extreme pain disorder or PEPD.