Methods of treating pain by inhibition of VGF activity
The present disclosure relates to a method of treating pain, in particular neuropathic pain, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of VGF activity resulting from binding of VGF or a peptide of the type TLQP-21 to the receptor qC1qR. The disclosure also relates to and methods of screening for said inhibitors.
1. A method of treating neuropathic pain, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of VGF activity resulting from binding of VGF or a TLQP-21 peptide to a gC1qR receptor,
wherein TLQP-21 peptide comprises a peptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3,
wherein the inhibitor is specific to VGF, the TLQP-21 peptide, or gC1qR, and
wherein the inhibitor is an antibody or a binding fragment thereof.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuropathic pain comprises neuropathic pain associated with nerve injury or damage, posttherapeutic neuropathy, HIV/AIDS, diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, alcohol neuropathy, amputation, facial nerve problems, wherein the facial nerve problems comprise Bell's Palsy, cancer, multiple sclerosis, compression of a nerve by a tumor, diabetes, stroke or excessive inflammatory responses that result in tissue damage.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor blocks binding of VGF or the TLQP-21 peptide to the receptor gC1qR,
wherein the TLQP-21 peptide comprises a peptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor blocks signalling subsequent to binding of VGF or the TLQP-21 peptide to the receptor gC1qR,
wherein the TLQP-21 peptide comprises a peptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is specific to VGF and an activity thereof associated with binding to gC1qR.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is specific for the receptor gC1qR and the activity thereof associated with binding VGF or the TLQP-21 peptide,
wherein the TLQP-21 peptide comprises a peptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuropathic pain is nociceptive pain.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuropathic pain is allodynia.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuropathic pain is continuous.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuropathic pain is episodic.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuropathic pain is peripheral.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuropathic pain is central.