Peptide potentiation of acid-sensory ion channel in pain
AssigneeUniversity of Iowa Research Foundation
InventorsMichael J. Welsh, Candice C. Askwith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An assay for determining agonists, antagonists, or modulators for acid-sensing ion channels. The assay is especially useful for screening analgesics. The screening assay can be provided in a kit form. The assay comprises administering the composition to be screened to cells expressing acid-gated channels and then determining whether the composition inhibits, enhances, or has no effect on the channels when acid is introduced. The determination can be performed by analyzing whether a current is sustained by the cells in the presence of the composition and the acid. This current can be compared to that sustained by the FMRFamide and related peptides.
Claims11
A method for screening compositions to identify agonists, antagonists, or modulators of acid-sensing ion channels comprising
- administering the composition to be screened to cells expressing acid-gated channels in the presence of acid and FMRFamide or FMRFamide-related peptides, and determining whether the composition enhances or inhibits the opening of the acid-sensing ion channels of the DEG/ENaC channel family.
A method for screening compositions to identify analgesics comprising
- administering the composition to be screened to cells expressing acid-gated channels, and
- determining whether the composition inhibits the opening of the acid-sensing ion channels of the DEG/ENaC channel family in the presence of acid and FMRFamide or related peptides.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.