FIGURE 2.
Pharmacogenetics of myotonic sodium channel mutants. (A,B) Representative sodium current traces from hNav1.4 WT channels and myotonic G1306E mutants recorded in transfected cells at steady-state before and during application of mexiletine at 0.1 and 10 Hz stimulation frequencies. (C) Concentration-effect relationships for mexiletine on WT and G1306E, fitted to a first-order binding function. (D,E) Effects of flecainide on sodium currents in the same conditions as in (A,B). (F) Concentration-effect relationships for flecainide on WT and G1306E. The G1306E mutation impairs mexiletine inhibition, while leaving flecainide affinity unchanged. Consequently, patients carrying G1306E, who suffer form a severe form of myotonia, obtained significant improvement by shifting treatment from mexiletine to flecainide.