Patent ID: 6689938
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: A61P,C07K

Abstract:
A method to identify compounds useful in regulating insulin resistance in obesity and type II diabetes, comprisinga. administering a peptide compound having melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) biological activity to a genetically modified mouse comprising a genetic modification within two alleles of its Pomc locus, the genetic modification comprising a deletion, a substitution, or a modification of exon 3 of the Pomc locus or a deletion, a substitution, or a modification preventing or reducing expression of exon 3 of the Pomc locus, wherein said genetic modification results in an absence of proopiomelanocortin (Pomc) peptide activity in said mouse, and wherein administration of said peptide compound having MSH biological activity induces insulin resistance in said mouse; wherein said peptide compound having MSH biological activity is a compound having an ability to bind to a MSH receptor, to stimulate lipolysis or to inhibit the uptake of fatty acids by adipocytes; b. administering a compound to be evaluated to said mouse; and, c. selecting compounds from (b) that decrease the insulin resistance in said mouse as compared to in the absence of said compound of (b).