Abstract
The aim of the present study was to identify whether the sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 9 (SCN9A) gene modification is a potential treatment for diarrhea‑predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D‑IBS), via regulating the Na+ channel and the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF). The recombinant adenovirus vector of the SCN9A gene was established, and rat colon cells were isolated for SCN9A gene modification. All subjects were divided into four groups: i) The SCN9A‑modified (D‑IBS rat model implanted with SCN9A‑modified colon cells), ii) negative control (NC; D‑IBS rat model implanted with colon cells without SCN9A gene modification), iii) blank (D‑IBS rat model without any treatment) and iv) normal (normal rats without any treatment). Western blotting and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression levels of SCN9A, NGF and voltage gated sodium channels (Nav)1.8 and Nav1.9 in rat colon tissues. Compared with the normal group, the rats in the SCN9A, NC and blank groups had significantly elevated mRNA and protein expression levels of NGF, SCN9A, Nav1.8 and Nav1.9. The rats in the SCN9A group demonstrated significantly increased mRNA and protein expression levels of NGF, SCN9A, Nav1.8 and Nav1.9 compared with the NC group and the blank group (all P<0.05). SCN9A gene modification can promote the expression of Nav1.8 and Nav1.9 channels, in addition to NGF which may provide a novel therapeutic basis for treating of D‑IBS.