Methods for identifying analgesic agents
The present invention relates to the discovery that mutations in SCN9A are causative of Congenital Indifference to Pain (CIP) in humans. The invention also relates to methods of using compounds small organic compounds to treat pain as well as to predict the effect of analgesic agents in patients, such as those possessing gain of function mutations.
1. A method of treating pain in a human having a gain of function nucleotide polymorphism in an SCN9A gene that results in the R1150W mutation in SCN9A polypeptide, comprising administering to said human a sodium channel blocking agent selected from Compound A and a chemical analog of Compound A that selectively inhibits the activity of the SCN9A polypeptide.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sodium channel blocking agent is compound A.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said SCN9A gene without said polymorphism has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said SCN9A polypeptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.