Patent ID: 8492336

Claim:
A method for treating neuropathic pain involving sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system involving a GFRα-3 receptor in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a human neurotrophic growth factor polypeptide comprising: (a) seven conserved cysteine residues at positions 16, 43, 47, 80, 81, 109, and 111 when numbered in accordance with SEQ ID NO: 3; (b) amino acid residues as follows: C at position 16, L at position 18, V at position 25, L at position 28, G at position 29, L at position 30, G at position 31, E at position 36, F at position 40, Rat position 41, F at position 42, C at position 43, G at position 45, C at position 47, C at position 80, C at position 81, R at position 82, P at position 83, F at position 91, D at position 93, S at position 105, A at position 106, C at position 109 and C at position 111, each when numbered in accordance with SEQ ID NO: 3; and (c) an LGLG repeat, an FRFC motif, a QPCCRP motif, and a SATACGC motif; wherein said neurotrophic growth factor polypeptide is at least 90% homologous to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3; and wherein said neurotrophic growth factor polypeptide exerts its effect by binding to GFRα-3 receptor, thereby treating neurotrophic pain involving the GFRα-3 receptor of the sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system.