Method of treatment for reducing pain sensitization

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the use of lipophilic mercaptans for the treatment of pain sensitization. The lipophilic mercaptans disclosed can be used to decrease the formation of protein-aldehyde adducts within nociceptive nerves, thereby reducing sensitization to pain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating pain sensitization in a subject in need thereof, said method comprising orally administering to the subject in need thereof an organosulfur composition comprising an effective amount of a mixture of:
 S-(1-((2-acetamido-2-carboxyethyl)-disulfanyl)propan-2-yl)-N-acetylcysteine and:   ((2-acetamido-2-carboxyethyl)-disulfanyl)propyl)-N-acetylcysteine or a salt thereof, said mixture metabolizing during digestion to form allyl mercaptan and other products, wherein said allyl mercaptan reacts with an aldehyde within the lipid membranes of said subject, said aldehyde being in the form of an aldehyde or in the form of a protein-aldehyde adduct, to produce a molecular conjugate of said allyl mercaptan and said aldehyde; thereby decreasing the pain sensitization effect of said aldehyde.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  where said pain sensitization is hyperalgesia. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  where said pain sensitization is allodynia. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  where said administration of said organosulfur composition produces a decrease in the amount of protein carbonyls within TRPA1 non-specific cation channel proteins of nociceptive neurons. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  where said administration of said organosulfur composition produces a decrease in the amount of hydrogen peroxide within nociceptive neurons. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  where said organosulfur composition is a dietary supplement. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  where said dietary supplement is in the form of a capsule or tablet. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  where said dietary supplement is in the form of a beverage. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  where the unit dosage of the mixture of S-(1-((2-acetamido-2-carboxyethyl)-disulfanyl)propan-2-yl)-N-acetylcysteine and ((2-acetamido-2-carboxyethyl)-disulfanyl)propyl)-N-acetylcysteine or a salt thereof within said organosulfur composition is within the range of 5 mg to 150 mg. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  where the unit dosage of the mixture of S-(1-((2-acetamido-2-carboxyethyl)-disulfanyl)propan-2-yl)-N-acetylcysteine and ((2-acetamido-2-carboxyethyl)-disulfanyl)propyl)-N-acetylcysteine or a salt thereof within said organosulfur composition is within the range of 5 mg to 50 mg. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  where the unit dosage of the mixture of S-(1-((2-acetamido-2-carboxyethyl)-disulfanyl)propan-2-yl)-N-acetylcysteine and ((2-acetamido-2-carboxyethyl)-disulfanyl)propyl)-N-acetylcysteine or a salt thereof within said organosulfur composition is within the range of 25 mg to 150 mg. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  where said organosulfur composition is a nutraceutical. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  where the unit dosage of the mixture of S-(1-((2-acetamido-2-carboxyethyl)-disulfanyl)propan-2-yl)-N-acetylcysteine and ((2-acetamido-2-carboxyethyl)-disulfanyl)propyl)-N-acetylcysteine or a salt thereof within said organosulfur composition is within the range of 5 mg to 150 mg. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  where said organosulfur composition is a drug. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  where said organosulfur composition is administered in an amount within the range of 1 mg to 1000 mg per day. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  where said subject in need thereof has been diagnosed with the ALDH2-2 allele of the gene encoding the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) protein.