Patent ID: 6897019
Filing Date: 2005-05-24
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A drug screening method for identifying a compound which reduces TNF-α induced lipolysis comprising i) isolating a compound which is an inhibitor of ERK1, ERK2, or JNK, comprising contacting a candidate compound or a library of candidate compounds with one of ERK1, ERK2, or JNK, and assaying for a change in the expression or activity of ERK1, ERK2, or JNK, wherein a compound that decreases said expression or activity thereby indicates that the compound is an inhibitor of ERK1, ERK2, or JNK, and ii) contacting an adipocyte with the inhibitor of step (i) and TNF-α and determining the level of lipolysis, wherein a lower level of lipolysis in the presence of the inhibitor of step (i) relative to the level of lipolysis in the absence of the inhibitor of step (i) and wherein a similar level of lipolysis in the presence of the inhibitor relative to the absence of the compound when tested in the absence of TNF-α indicates that the compound reduces TNF-α induced lipolysis, to thereby identify a compound which reduces TNF-α induced lipolysis.