Pain treatment using ERK2 inhibitors
This application describes methods and compositions for reducing, inhibiting and/or treating pain that involve use of ERK2 inhibitors.
1. An expression cassette comprising a promoter and a polynucleotide segment comprising a DNA or RNA corresponding to any of SEQ ID NOs: 773-775, or a combination thereof.
2. The expression cassette claim 1 , wherein the segment comprises X-L-Y, wherein X is a sense sequence corresponding to any of SEQ NOs: 773-775; L is a spacer linked to the 3′ end of the sense sequence; and Y is an antisense sequence corresponding to any SEQ ID NOs: 773-775, wherein the antisense sequence is linked to the 3′ end of the linker; and wherein the Y antisense sequence is complementary to the X sense sequence so that upon expression of the polynucleotide segment, a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) is generated.
3. An expression vector comprising the expression cassette of claim 1 .
4. The expression vector of claim 3 wherein the vector is a viral vector.
5. The expression vector of claim 4 , wherein the viral vector is a neurotropic adeno-associated viral vector.
6. The expression vector of claim 4 , wherein the viral vector is a neurotropic recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV).
7. A composition comprising a carrier and the expression cassette of claim 1 .