Claims
- 1. A method for inducing weight loss in an animal, comprising administering to the animal a compound which reduces the expression and/or secretion of neuropeptide Y (NPY).
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein administration of the compound increases malonyl CoA levels in the animal.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is an inhibitor of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and is administered in an amount sufficient to reduce the expression and/or secretion of NPY.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is a substituted α-methylene-β-carboxyl-γ-butyrolactone.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is an inhibitor of malonyl Coenzyme A decarboxylase (MCD).
- 6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the compound is administered in an amount sufficient to reduce expression of NPY at least to the level observed in fed animals.
- 7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein expression and/or secretion of NPY is reduced in cells which express FAS.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein administration of the compound inhibits feeding behavior in the animal.
- 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the animal is deficient in expression of leptin or the animal is resistant to leptin.
- 10. A screening method to aid in identifying weight loss agents comprising administering a candidate compound to an animal or a hypothalamic culture; and monitoring expression or secretion of neuropeptide Y.
- 11. The screening method according to claim 10, wherein the treated animal is monitored for reduced frequency or intensity of feeding.
- 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the candidate compound is administered to the animal by injection.
- 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the compound is administered intraperitoneally or intracerebroventricularly.
- 14. The method according to any one of claims 10-13, wherein the candidate compound is an inhibitor of the enzyme fatty acid synthase.
- 15. A screening method for identifying genes whose expression is associated with control of weight loss comprising
administering a weight loss agent to an animal; and comparing expressed mRNA species in the animal treated with the weight loss agent to expressed mRNA species in control animals, wherein mRNA species expressed differentially are associated with control of weight loss.
- 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the weight loss agent is an substituted α-methylene-β-carboxyl-γ-butyrolactone, such as C-75.
- 17. The method of claim 15, wherein comparison of expressed mRNA species is limited to hypothalamic mRNA.
Government Interests
[0001] The work leading to this invention was supported in part by Grant Nos. DK0923, DK14575, and DC02979 from the National Institutes of Health and a grant from the Department of the Army. The U.S. Government retains certain rights in this invention.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US01/05316 |
2/16/2001 |
WO |
|