SCN10A

SCN10A (Sodium Voltage-Gated Channel Alpha Subunit 10): SCN10A encodes a member of the voltage-gated sodium channel family, which is essential for the initiation and propagation of action potentials in neurons and other excitable cells. This particular channel is predominantly expressed in peripheral sensory neurons and plays a critical role in pain sensation, making it a key player in nociception. Alterations in SCN10A function or expression have been linked to a variety of pain disorders, including neuropathic pain and inherited erythromelalgia, a condition characterized by episodes of burning pain and redness in the extremities. The channel's involvement in cardiac electrophysiology has also been noted, with variations in SCN10A contributing to the risk of cardiac arrhythmias. As such, SCN10A represents a significant target for the development of analgesic drugs aimed at modulating pain pathways, as well as potential therapeutic interventions for cardiac rhythm abnormalities. Its role in pain and cardiac function underscores the importance of precise regulation of sodium channels in health and disease.