Role of sodium channels in non-excitable cells

Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are not limited to excitable cells that produce action potentials (APs), but are also present and functional in a range of nonexcitable cells, including glia, immune cells, chondrocytes, and cancer. 

The expression of VGSCs in nonexcitable cells is dynamic, varying with developmental stage, cell type, and pathological conditions, and is influenced by neuronal activity, growth factors, and inflammatory stimuli.

Despite their low density compared with excitable cells, VGSCs in non-excitable cells significantly influence crucial cellular functions, such as motility, phagocytosis, cytokine release, and cell signaling.

Dysregulation of VGSCs in non-excitable cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of a spectrum of diseases, including multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, neuropathic pain, osteoarthritis, and cancer. VGSCs in non-excitable cells merit study as potential therapeutic targets offering novel avenues for drug development.

https://www.cell.com/trends/cell-biology/fulltext/S0962-8924(24)00251-4

https://sciencemission.com/Sodium-channels-in-non-excitable-cells