Peptide potentiation of acid-sensory ion channel in pain

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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating conditions associated with the response of acid-sensing ion channels of the DEG/ENaC channel family comprising administering an agonist, antagonist, or modulator of the acid-sensing ion channels in the presence or absence of FMRFamide or FMRFamide-related peptides in a therapeutically-effective amount.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of pain, altered taste sensation, behavior disorder, neurologic disease, psychiatric disease, altered blood pressure, altered respiration, and opiod addiction.