Patent ID: 8236488
Filing Date: 2012-08-07
Classification: A61K,A61P,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of screening a substance efficacious for healing or treating a vascular disorder resulting from abnormal uric acid uptake into a vascular smooth muscle cell or abnormal uric acid elimination by URAT1 from a vascular smooth muscle cell, wherein the method comprises: a. contacting a vascular smooth muscle cell with a test compound and urate; b. measuring the amount of uric acid in i) the vascular smooth muscle cell, or ii) a medium comprising the vascular smooth muscle cell; c. comparing the amount of uric acid with a control, wherein the control is i) the level of uric acid in a control vascular smooth muscle cell, or ii) the level of uric acid in a medium comprising the control vascular smooth muscle cell, respectively; and d. identifying the test compound as efficacious for healing, preventing or treating a vascular disorder when addition of the test compound increases or decreases the amount of uric acid in the vascular smooth muscle cell or intercellular in the medium comprising the vascular smooth muscle cell, as compared with the control.