Methods and compositions for treating neuropathic pain

Abstract

Compositions and methods for the treatment of neuropathic pain are provided. Compositions of the invention may comprise proteins with a zinc-finger domain fused to a regulatory domain that is capable of either activating or repressing the expression of a target gene involved in neuropathic pain. Alternatively, compositions of the invention may comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein of the invention, which nucleic acid sequence may optionally be provided as a plasmid or within a virus or other vector for delivery to a target cell or tissue. Methods of treating neuropathic pain involving treatment of subject with the compositions of the invention are also provided. Exemplary target genes for the treatment of neuropathic pain include VR1, NaV 1.8 , and TrkA.

1 . A composition for the treatment of neuropathic pain comprising: 
 a protein comprising a zinc finger protein (ZFP) that is capable of regulating the expression of a gene involved in neuropathic pain; and    a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.    
   
   
       2 . A composition for the treatment of neuropathic pain comprising: 
 a nucleic acid encoding a protein comprising a zinc finger protein (ZFP) that capable of regulating the expression of a gene involved in neuropathic pain; and    a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.    
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the protein comprises a ZFP fused to a repression domain.  
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the gene is over-expressed in the dorsal root ganglia of pain patients.  
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the gene is at least one of TRK-A, NaV 1.8  and VR1.  
   
   
       6 . A method of treating neuropathic pain comprising: 
 administering to a subject a composition of  claim 1  or  claim 2 .    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the protein comprises a ZFP fused to a repression domain.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the gene is over-expressed in the dorsal root ganglia of pain patients.  
   
   
       9 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the gene is at least one of TRK-A, NaV 1.8  and VR1.