Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

The University of British Columbia

James M Ntambi

Makoto Miyazaki

Alan D Attie

Mark Gray-Keller

Mark Eric Cook

Michael R Hayden

Jordan Marshall Sand

Lisa Ann Krugner-Higby

Alison J Brownlie

Hector Floyd Deluca

Margaret Clagett-Dame

Dhanansayan Shanmuganayagam

Jamie M Ahrens

Michael Allen Polewski

Maggie S Burhans

Rozalyn M Anderson

Ricki L Colman

Mary J Lindstrom

Brian Thomson

Mark P Gray-Keller

Provided herein are reagents, methods and biochemical markers for identifying individuals with glucoregulatory dysfunction and providing therapeutic intervention for individuals identified as at risk for glucoregulatory dysfunction. Specifically provided herein are methods for identifying a subject with glucoregulatory dysfunction based on changes in fasting blood lipid concentrations including, inter alia, diacylglycerols.

Methods for predicting glucoregulatory dysfunction via diacylglycerol fatty acid species concentrations

Described herein dog and cat food additives and compositions comprising secretory IgA.

Methods of use of secretory IgA

Described herein are methods of preventing and/or treating inflammation in a barrier surface structure in an individual in need thereof by orally administering to the individual an anti-inflammatory amount of secretory IgA.

Methods for treating and preventing obesity, inhibiting adipocyte differentiation, inhibiting increased SCD-1 gene transcription, and/or reducing body fat in a subject include administering at least one analog of 1&#x3b1;,25-dihydroxyvitamin Dor 1&#x3b1;,25-dihydroxyvitamin Dor a pharmaceutical composition that includes such an analog to a subject in need thereof. The analog may be a 19-nor vitamin D analog such as a compound of formula IA, a compound of formula IB, or a mixture thereof where the variables R, R, and Rhave the values described herein. 

Vitamin D analogs for obesity prevention and treatment

The use of screening assays based on the role of human stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 ('hSCD1') in human diseases, disorders or conditions relating to serum levels of triglyceride, VLDL, HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, or production of secretions from mucous membranes, monounsaturated fatty acids, wax esters, and the like, is disclosed. Also disclosed are conventions useful in the prevention and/or treatment of such diseases.

Methods and compositions using stearoyl-CoA desaturase to identify triglyceride reducing therapeutic agents

The cloning of a fourth mouse SCD gene, mSCD4, as well as its corresponding cDNA and amino acid sequences are disclosed. Mouse SCD4 is expressed mainly in the heart tissue and synthesizes the bulk of monounsaturated fatty acids in the heart. The disclosure here enables new tools (e.g., nucleic acids, polypeptides, antibodies, vectors, recombinant cells, and transgenic and knock-out animals) for studying the function of various SCD isoforms and their connection to various disease conditions. New tools for converting saturated fatty acyl-CoA to monounsaturated acyl-CoA and for identifying SCD modulators including isoform-specific modulators are also enabled. In addition, given that accumulation of lipid in the heart (fatty heart) can have deleterious consequences, the present invention also provides a new prevention and treatment target for fatty heart as well as methods for screening candidate drugs.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 4 gene

Growing community of inventors

Madison, WI, United States of America

James M Ntambi