Intrafamilial Phenotypic Variability Associated with the I1739V Mutation in the SCN9A Gene

The SCN9A gene encodes a voltage gated sodium channel Nav1.7 in which mutations can result in a wide variety of phenotypes ranging from congenital insensitivity to pain to small fiber neuropathy. We report the genotype phenotype analysis in a family carrying a specific mutation, I1739V, in the SCN9A gene. Neurophysiological studies have documented the gain of function impact of this mutation on this sodium channel. Interestingly, there is significant interfamilial phenotypic variability in individuals carrying this mutation. In our family, a father daughter combination had identical genotypes analyzing the SCN9A gene and multiple other genes known to cause neuropathy. Both of them carry the I1739V mutation but exhibit significant phenotypic variability with complaints of decreased sensitivity to discomfort in the father while the daughter has the clinical and laboratory features consistent with a small fiber neuropathy. We hypothesize that there are modifiers of the I1739V mutation that could involve intronic or exonic gene variants which contribute to this intrafamilial phenotypic variability. Our study has implications for genetic counseling, personalized medicine and the development of drugs to treat neuropathic pain.