Use of senicapoc for treatment of neuropathic pain

Abstract

A method is disclosed of treating pain with senicapoc, a potent Ca2+-activated K+ channel, KCa3.1 antagonist in CNS-resident microglia. Senicapoc is shown to cause in a decrease of IL-1β and NO release from microglia cells vivo and in vitro. Because of contribution of KCa3.1 to neuropathological processes, senicapoc is useful in the treatment of chronic, neuropathic, visceral, and inflammatory pain and the reversal of tactile allodynia.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A pharmaceutical composition for the inhibition of a calcium activated potassium channel K Ca 3.1 on microglia in the central nervous system, satellite glia in the dorsal root ganglia or other peripheral immune cells comprising a composition containing at least one excipient and an-amount of senicapoc sufficient to achieve 50% inhibition of the potassium channel K Ca 3.1 on microglia in the central nervous system, satellite glia in the dorsal root ganglia or other peripheral immune cells. 
     
     
         19 . A method of inhibiting the release of nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) from microglia in the central nervous system comprising the administration of an amount of senicapoc sufficient to achieve 50% inhibition of the potassium channel K Ca 3.1 on microglia in the central nervous system. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)