Methods for treating pain

Abstract

Disclosed herein are bone marrow stromal cells. The bone marrow stromal cells may express and/or secrete TGF-β1. The bone marrow stromal cells may express CXCR4. Also disclosed herein is a method of treating pain in a subject in need thereof. The method of treating may include administration of the bone marrow stromal cells to the subject. The pain may be neuropathic pain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating pain in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs);
 wherein the BMSCs secrete TGF-β1 and express CXCR4 and do not differentiate into another cell type after administration of the BMSCs to the subject; and,   wherein the composition is administered by direct injection into the dorsal root ganglia.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pain comprises neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain, cancer pain, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pain is chronic. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the BMSCs are autologous BMSCs, heterologous BMSCs, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the BMSCs are derived from a cell line, a donor subject, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein about 0.5×10 5  to about 5.0×10 7  BMSCs are administered to the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pain is reduced or suppressed in the subject for at least about 6 months. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the BMSCs are targeted to one or more injured neurons, inflamed dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), one or more DRGs with injured axons, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein axons in the subject are protected from injury. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after administration of the composition, the BMSCs migrate to dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) expressing CXCL12. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein after migration, the BMSCs are localized at an edge or surrounding membrane of the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), spinal cord, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after administration of the composition, the BMSCs are present in the subject for at least 1 month. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the BMSCs are tolerated by an immune system of the subject. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises administering to the subject a composition comprising TGF-β1. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the composition comprising TGF-β1 is administered by injection. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises TGF-β1. 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating pain in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and TGF-β1;
 wherein the BMSCs secrete TGF-β1 and express CXCR4; and, 
 wherein the composition is administered by direct injection into the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein 0.5×10 5  to 9.5×10 5  BMSCs are administered to the subject. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the BMSCs do not differentiate into another cell type 28 days after administration of the BMSCs to the subject. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the BMSCs are a homogeneous population of BMSCs. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the BMSCs are a homogeneous population of BMSCs.