Lactoferrin in the reduction of pain
The present invention relates to methods of using lactoferrin (LF) to reduce pain in conditions associated with severe or intractable pain by administering a composition of lactoferrin either alone or in combination with other therapy for pain.
1. A method of treating a subject suffering from pain comprising the step of administering to the subject an effective amount of a lactoferrin composition comprising an N-terminal lactoferrin variant to provide an improvement in pain in the subject, wherein the pain is associated with recovery from surgery and wherein the N-terminal lactoferrin variant in the lactoferrin composition has a deletion, substitution, or combination thereof, of 1 to 16 N-terminal amino acid residues and the N-terminal lactoferrin variant retains the same biological function as full length lactoferrin.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said lactoferrin composition reduces the severity of pain in the subject.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said lactoferrin composition is dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said lactoferrin is mammalian lactoferrin.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said lactoferrin is human lactoferrin or bovine lactoferrin.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said lactoferrin is recombinant lactoferrin.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said lactoferrin composition is administered orally.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising administering an antacid in conjunction with said lactoferrin composition.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the lactoferrin composition is administered in a delayed release formulation.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the lactoferrin composition is formulated for release in the small intestine.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the lactoferrin composition is formulated for release in the large intestine.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said lactoferrin composition is administered parenterally.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said lactoferrin composition is administered topically.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said lactoferrin composition reduces the production or activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the cytokine is TNF-α.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said lactoferrin composition enhances the production or activity of cytokines that enhance an immune response.