Tafa4 compounds and uses thereof for treating pain

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of using a TAFA4 protein or an agonist thereof for preventing, alleviating or treating pain in a subject. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating pain in a subject by administering a TAFA4 protein or an agonist thereof to the subject. The TAFA4 can have the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2. The TAFA4 agonist can also be a peptide comprising 10 to 60 consecutive amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2. Also described herein are pharmaceutical compositions, their preparation and uses as well as methods for preventing, alleviating or treating pain using such compounds and compositions.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14 / 787,483, filed Oct. 28, 2015, which is the U.S. national stage application of International Patent Application No. PCT / EP2014 / 059247, filed May 6, 2014.[0002]The Sequence Listing for this application is labeled “Seq-List.txt” which was created on Oct. 20, 2015 and is 8 KB. The entire contents of the sequence listing is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.[0003]The present invention relates to novel compounds for use for preventing, alleviating or treating pain in a subject. Also described herein are pharmaceutical compositions, their preparation and uses as well as methods for preventing, alleviating or treating pain using such compounds and compositions.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Pain is an unpleasant sensory experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Thus, pain is the most common symptom of various injuries and diseases. There exist ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is about a type of rodent that has a defective gene called TAFA4. These rodents are more sensitive to touch and chemicals, and have more nerve cells that are always ready to fire. The goal is to create these rodents so that researchers can study how the TAFA4 gene affects sensory perception.

Problems solved by technology

Pain is an unpleasant sensory experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.

The balance between excitation and inhibition is crucial for maintenance of normal sensory function, and dysfunction of these circuits leads to the development of pain such as inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

Management of chronic pain, however, is much more difficult.

Aspirin and the other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit cyclooxygenases, leading to a decrease in prostaglandin production.

Paracetamol has few side effects and is regarded as safe, although intake above the recommended dose can lead to liver damage, which can be severe and life-threatening, and occasionally kidney damage.

NSAIDs predispose to peptic ulcers, renal failure, allergic reactions, and occasionally hearing loss, and can increase the risk of hemorrhage by affecting platelet function.

Dosing of all opioids may be limited by opioid toxicity (confusion, respiratory depression, myoclonic jerks and pinpoint pupils) and seizures (tramadol), but there is no dose ceiling in patients who accumulate tolerance.

However, certain combination analgesic products can result in significant adverse events, including accidental overdoses, most often due to confusion which arises from the multiple (and often non-acting) components of these combinations (Murnion, Combination analgesics in adults.

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