Academic Journal

The mechanism underlying transient weakness in myotonia congenita

Bibliographic Details
Title: The mechanism underlying transient weakness in myotonia congenita
Authors: Jessica H Myers, Kirsten Denman, Chris DuPont, Ahmed A Hawash, Kevin R Novak, Andrew Koesters, Manfred Grabner, Anamika Dayal, Andrew A Voss, Mark M Rich
Source: eLife, Vol 10 (2021)
Publisher Information: eLife Sciences Publications Ltd, 2021.
Publication Year: 2021
Collection: LCC:Medicine
LCC:Science
LCC:Biology (General)
Subject Terms: muscle fiber, myotonia, sodium channel, calcium channel, persistent sodium current, excitability, Medicine, Science, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
Description: In addition to the hallmark muscle stiffness, patients with recessive myotonia congenita (Becker disease) experience debilitating bouts of transient weakness that remain poorly understood despite years of study. We performed intracellular recordings from muscle of both genetic and pharmacologic mouse models of Becker disease to identify the mechanism underlying transient weakness. Our recordings reveal transient depolarizations (plateau potentials) of the membrane potential to −25 to −35 mV in the genetic and pharmacologic models of Becker disease. Both Na+ and Ca2+ currents contribute to plateau potentials. Na+ persistent inward current (NaPIC) through NaV1.4 channels is the key trigger of plateau potentials and current through CaV1.1 Ca2+ channels contributes to the duration of the plateau. Inhibiting NaPIC with ranolazine prevents the development of plateau potentials and eliminates transient weakness in vivo. These data suggest that targeting NaPIC may be an effective treatment to prevent transient weakness in myotonia congenita.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2050-084X
Relation: https://elifesciences.org/articles/65691; https://doaj.org/toc/2050-084X
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.65691
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/f201e13c4e5f4c20b08b45b730d90c95
Accession Number: edsdoj.f201e13c4e5f4c20b08b45b730d90c95
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
Description
ISSN:2050084X
DOI:10.7554/eLife.65691