W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center Incorporated

Ginette Serrero

Mammalian adipogenic factors, including purified proteins or glycoproteins, capable of inducing the adipose differentiation of adipogenic cells are disclosed, as are antibodies to such proteins, DNA encoding the proteins and host cells expressing the proteins. A method for determining the susceptibility of a subject to obesity by measuring the levels of one or more adipogenic factors in a biological fluid or tissue extract is also disclosed, as is a method for evaluating an anti-obesity drug which comprises contacting the drug with cells capable of producing one or more adipogenic factors and measuring the amount of the factors produced.

Mammalian adipogenic factors

Antibodies to mammalian adipogenic factors

Epidermal growth factor (EGF), which can act as a potent inhibitor of adipocyte differentiation in vitro, affects adipose tissue differentiation in vivo and can suppress obesity. Methods are provided for inhibiting the differentiation of adipocyte precursor cells, and for treating or preventing obesity, which comprise administering an effective amount of a composition capable of binding to and activating the EGF receptor, preferably epidermal EGF or a functional derivative thereof, TGF.alpha., an antibody specific for the EGF receptor or an anti-idiotypic antibody specific for an idiotope on an antibody specific for EGF. Also provided is a method for determining the susceptibility of a subject to obesity or determining the presence of obesity associated with an abnormality in EGF or EGF receptor, which comprises measuring EGF in a body fluid or the amount or activity of EGF receptor protein or mRNA in adipocyte precursors.

Inhibition of adipose tissue development and obesity

A mammalian adipocyte-specific polypeptide, termed p154, is expressed in high quantities in adipogenic cell lines after cell differentiation and is abundant in the fat pads of normal and genetically obese mammals. The murine and human polypeptide, DNA and RNA molecules coding therefor, methods for its preparation, and antibodies specific for the polypeptide are also disclosed. Methods for determining the susceptibility of a subject to obesity are based on measuring the levels of the adipocyte polypeptide in a biological fluid or tissue extract or by measuring mRNA encoding the polypeptide in cells of the subject. Methods of evaluating an anti-obesity drug comprise contacting the drug with an adipocyte in vitro and measuring the amount of the adipocyte polypeptide or mRNA produced by the adipocyte. Methods of treating a subject with obesity comprise administering the above antibody or blocking the expression of the p154 gene.

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Lake Placid, NY, United States of America

Ginette Serrero