PPAR GAMMA ANTAGONISTS FOR TREATING OBESITY

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating obesity, diabetes and other metabolic disorders in a mammal by administering to the mammal a pharmaceutical composition containing a compound that antagonizes the activity of PPAR gamma protein, or reduces the expression of PPAR gamma protein. This invention also features methods of screening for compounds for treating obesity, diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

Description: PPAR GAMMA ANTAGONISTS FOR TREATING OBESITY FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to compounds and methods for treating obesity and other metabolic disorders. This invention also relates to screening for compounds having the aforesaid therapeutic effects. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Obesity is usually defined as a body weight more than 20% in excess of the ideal body weight. Obesity is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) , hypertension, coronary artery disease and an increased mortality rate (see Grundy et al. , Disease-a-Month 36:645-696, 1990) . Treatment for obesity includes diet, exercise and surgery (Leibel, R.L. et al., New England Journal of Medicine 332:621-628, 1995) . Obesity is related to abnormal number or function of adipocytes. Adipocytes store energy in the form of triglcerides during periods of nutritional abundance and release it in the form of free fatty acids at times of nutritional deprivation. The function of adipocytes is related to peroxisomes, which are subcellular organelles found in animals and plants. Peroxisomes contain enzymes for cholesterol and lipid metabolism and respiration. A variety of chemical agents called peroxisome proliferators induce the proliferation of peroxisomes and increase the capacity of peroxisomes to metabolize fatty acids via increased expression of the enzymes required for the β- oxidation cycle. Peroxisome proliferators include unsaturated fatty acids, hypolipidemic drugs (Reddy, J. K., and Azarnoff, D. L., Nature 283:397-398, 1980), herbicides, leukotriene antagonists, and plasticizers (for a review, see Green, S., Biochem. Pharmacol. 43:393-400, 1992) . Hypolipidemic drugs such as clofibrates have been found to lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels in plasma and to be beneficial in the prevention of ischemic heart disease in individuals with elevated levels of cholesterol (Havel, R.J. and Kane, J.P., Ann. Rev. Pharmac. 13:287-308. 1973) . However, fibrate hypolipidemic drugs are also rodent hepatocarcinogens (Reddy, J. K., et al., Rr. J. Cancer 40:476-482, 1979; Reddy, J. K. , et al., Nature 283:397-398, 1980) . Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) have been isolated and cloned from various species (Isseman, et al. Nature 347:645-650, 1990; Dreyer, et al. , ___ 68:879-887, 1992; Gottlicher, et al . Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 89:4653-4657, 1992; Sher, et al . Biochemistry 32:5598-5604, 1993; and Schmidt, et al . Mol. Endocrinol. 6:1634-16414-8, 1992; Tontonoz, et al . Genes & Development 8:1224-1234, 1994; Kliewer, et al . Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 91:7355-7359, 1994; Chen, et al . Biochem. and Biophy. Res. Com. 196:671-677, 1993) . The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor subtypes are members of the intracellular receptor superfamily. A subtype of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors, PPARy, plays a key role in adipocyte differentiation. Two isoforms of PPARy (PPARyl and PPARy2 that differ by 30 amino acids at the N-terminus) have been identified in mice (Tontonoz, et al . Genes & Development 8:1224-1234, 1994) . PPARγ2 is expressed at high levels specifically in adipose tissue and is induced early in the course of differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to adipocytes. Overexpression and activation of PPARy protein stimulates adipose conversion in cultured fibroblasts (Tontonoz, et al . Cell 79:1147-1156, 1994, not admitted to be prior art) . Activation of PPARy is sufficient to turn on the entire program of adipocyte differentiation (Lehmann, et al . J. Biol. Chemistry 270:12953-12956 (1995) , not admitted to be prior art) . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to altering adipocyte differentiation and treating obesity by antagonizing the activity of PPARy protein or reducing the expression of PPARy protein. Expansion of adipose mass requires de novo differentiation from precursor cells (Ailhaud, et al . Annu. Rev. Nutr. 12:207-233, 1992) . Over expansion and accumulation of adipose tissue and other disorders of adipose tissue contribute to obesity, diabetes, lipoprotein defects, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesteremia, hyperlipoproteinemia and other metabolic diseases or disorders . This invention discloses that compounds which antagonize the activity of PPARy protein and/or reduce the expression of PPARy protein are effective in blocking the differentiation of the precursor cells to adipose tissue and is therefore useful in the treatment of obesity, diabetes, lipoprotein defects, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperchloesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemia and other metabolic diseases or disorders. Thus, in a first aspect, this invention features a method of treating obesity, diabetes, lipoprotein defects, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperchloesterolemia , hyperlipoproteinemia and other metabolic diseases or disorders in a mammal, including, but not limited to, a human, by administering to the mammal a pharmaceutical composition containing a compound which antagonizes the activity of PPARy protein or reduces the expression of PPARy protein. By "activating" or "antagonizing" is respectively meant increasing or decreasing the activity of a PPAR protein in a dosage dependent manner. An activating or antagonizing agent is respectively capable of increasing or decreasing the biochemical activity of a protein by two-fold (preferably by five-fold, more preferably by ten-fold, and even more preferably by a hundred-fold) . Such activity includes, but is not limited to, the transcription activation activity of a PPAR protein. PPARy is known to form heterodimer with other intracellular proteins, including, but not limited to, thyroid hormone receptor (TR) , liver enriched X receptor (LXR) and RXR. These heterodimers modulate the transcription activity of genes involved in adipocyte differentiation and other metabolic pathways. A compound of this invention may selectively antagonize a particular PPARy heterodimer or a number of different PPARy heterodimers. By antagonizing the transcription activity of one or more PPARy heterodimers, the compounds of this invention modulate adipocyte differentiation, obesity, and related symptoms. By "reducing the expression of PPARy protein" is meant decreasing the level of PPARy protein by two-fold (preferably by five-fold, more preferably by ten-fold, and even more preferably by a hundred-fold) . In a second aspect, this invention features a method of treating obesity, diabetes, lipoprotein defects, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperchloesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemia and other metabolic diseases or disorders in a mammal, including, but not limited to, a human, by administering to the mammal a pharmaceutical composition containing a compound which reduces the expression of PPARy protein or antagonizes the activity of PPARy protein. In a third aspect, this invention features a method for screening compounds for treating obesity, diabetes, lipoprotein defects, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperchloesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemia and other metabolic diseases or disorders by contacting a test compound with an adipocyte or preadipocyte cell, then measuring or detecting its effect in lowering the level of triglyceride, lipoprotein lipase, fatty acid synthetase, aP2, adipsin, or PEPCK as an indication of its therapeutic utility. By "preadipocyte" is meant a cell that can be induced to differentiate into an adipocyte by chemicals, such as, but not limited to, dexamethasone, insulin, 3-Isobutyl-l- Methyl-Xanthine (IBMX) , BRL 49653, thiazolidinedione, or any combinations of the above. 3T3-L1 cell is an exapmle of preadipocyte. In preferred embodiments, compounds that antagonize the activity of PPARy protein, or reduce the expression of PPARy protein are selected for testing in the assay. In further preferred embodiments, selected candidate compounds are those that reduce the transcription regulation activity of a PPARy heterodimer, including, but not limited to, PPARγ/LXR heterodimer, PPARγ/TR heterodimer and PPARγ/RXR heterodimer. The compounds identified by these methods are particularly useful in the treatment of diseases and pathological conditions affected by the activity of PPARy protein, including, without limitation, obesity, diabetes, lipoprotein defects, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperchloesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemia and other metabolic diseases or disorders. Such methods are particularly usful for the identification of agents of low molecular weight (less than 10,000 daltons, preferably less than 5,000, and most preferably less than 1,000) which can be readily formulated as useful therapeutic agents. Steroids and steroid analogues exemplify agents which can be tested. The following classes of chemicals compounds are candidate compounds: thiazolidinediones (see T.M. Willson et al. (1996) , J. Med. Chem. 39:665-668) , eicosanoids (see K. Yu et al. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 41:23975-23983) , leukotrienes, retinoids (see S. Canan Koch et al. (1996) J. Med. Chem. 39:3229-3234) , fibrates (see A. Lozada et al . (1994) Pharmac . Ther. 63:163-176), and prostaglandins (see B. Forman et al . (1995) Call 83:803-812) . Once isolated, a candidate agent can be put in pharmaceutically acceptable formulations, such as those described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences. 18th ed. , Mack Publishing Co., Easton, PA (1990) , incorporated by reference herein, and used for specific treatment of diseases and pathological conditions with little or no effect on healthy tissues. In another aspect, this invention features a pharmaceutical composition capable of treating obesity, diabetes, lipoprotein defects, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperchloesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemia and other metabolic diseases or disorders. The composition is held within a container which includes a label stating to the effect that the composition is approved by the FDA in the United States (or other equivalent labels in other countries) for treatment of a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, coronary diseases, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperchloesterolemia and hyperlipoproteinemia. Such a container will provide sufficient compound to allow a therapeutically effective amount to be administered in a therapeutically effective manner to a patient. One of ordinary skill in the art can identify a mammal for treatment by diagnosing disorders of adipose tissue in the mammal subject. Pharmaceutical compositions may be administered to the mammal subject by methods known to one skilled in the art, including, but not limited to, those disclosed in the preferred embodiments. The present invention also includes pharmaceutically acceptable compositions prepared for storage and subsequent administration which include a therapeutically effective amount of an above-described compound in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. By "therapeutically effective amount" is meant an amount of a pharmaceutical composition having a therapeutically relevant effect. A therapeutically relevant effect relieves to some extent one or more symptoms of the disease or condition in the patient; or returns to normal either partially or completely one or more physiological or biochemical parameters associated with or causative of the disease or condition. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof, and from the claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Screening for compounds for treating obesity Disclosed below are exemplary assays to screen for compounds useful for treating obesity, diabetes and other metabolic disorders. Any candidate compound can be tested by these assays. Other assays known to those skilled in the art may also be used, including, but not limited to, those disclosed or identified in U.S. application 08/484,487, entitled "Human Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor γ M by Mukherjee, incorporated by reference herein. The host cells used in the screening assay herein generally are mammalian cells, and preferably are human cell lines. Mammalian cells of choice are preadipocyte or adipocyte, e.g., 3T3-L1 or 3T3 F422A or ob 1771 (uninduced or induced to differentiate) . In a preferred embodiment, isolated rat primary adipocytes are used as a model assay system. Cell systems other than mammalian may also be used in the screening assays, such as Drosophila (SL-2, Kc or others) and yeast strains (permeabilized or not) such as S. cerevisiae or S. pombe. Animals such as mice can be used both as a primary screening vehicle in which compounds can be administered and parameters such as feeding, weight, levels of glucose, insulin, triglyceride, Lipoprotein lipase and PPARy protein or mRNA production can be measured along with other appropriate controls to effectively assess the changes in expression of PPARy protein or mRNA as well as a means of corroborating primary compound positives. A reporter gene responsive to PPAR activation could be introduced into animals utilizing the standard transgenic practice or adenovirus drag technology in which the target DNA is admixed with poly-L-lysine and/or transferrin or asialoglycoprotein modified adenovirus and injected i.v. into the animal, resulting in expression of the foreign DNA (Wu et al., JBC 266:14338-14342, 1991; Yanow et al.1993, PNAS 90:2122-2126) . In a preferred embodiment, adenovirus carrying the exogenous DNA can be injected directly into fat deposits of mice, rats or other species as has been done previously in brain (Davidson, Nature Genetics 3:219) (Science 259:988) , muscle (Quantin PNAS 89:2581) (Statford-Perricaudet J. Clin. Invest. 90:626), and tumors (Tang, Johnston and Carbone in a recent issue of Cancer Gene Therapy) . These animal model assay systems are also useful in secondary characterization and study of compounds found to treat obesity identified in other assays . Example 1. Screening for compounds that antagonize the activity of PPAR protein CV-1 cells are cultured in DMEM with 10% FBS. Cells are plated in Costar 96 well plates at a density of 5000 cells per well the day before they are transfected with plasmids. CV-1 cells are transfected with pCMXmPPARy (Kliewer, et al . Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 91:7355-7359 (1994)) and the PPREA3-tk-LUC reporter (Kliewer, et al . Nature 358:771-774 (1992) ) . Transient transfections are performed by the calcium phosphate precipitation method. Plasmids are mixed in the following ratios: lμg pCMXmPPARy expression vector, 9μg pGEM vector, 5μg pRS-β-Gal2, and 5μg of pPREA3-tk-LUC luciferase reporter. Each well receives 100 ng of precipitated DNA mix which is left on the plate for 5-6 hours. Plates are then washed with PBS and fresh media containing 10% charcoal-absorbed FBS and drug is added. Cells are incubated with drugs for 40 hours. The cells are then lysed and analyzed for luciferase and β-gal activity. Normalized response is the luciferase value divided by the β-gal activity for each well. Transfections are done in triplicate and each data point is the average from the three wells. Each experiment is performed at least three times. BRL 49653 (Lehmann, et al . J. Biol. Chemistry 270:12953-12956, 1995) is an anti-diabetic agent which induces the activity of PPARy protein. BRL 49653 is added to a final concentration of 320 nM. A candidate PPARy antagonist is added to the assay. In transiently transfected CV-1 cells, a PPARy dependent transcriptional activation (about 30-60 fold) is observed with 320 nM BRL 49653. A candidate compound which antagonizes the ability of BRL 49653 to activate PPARy in a dose dependent manner is selected as a PPARy antagonist. Example 2. Staining Assay A candidate compound can be examined for its effects to prevent the differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cells into adipocytes. 3T3-L1 cells have been used as a model system to study adipocyte biology and can be induced to differentiate into adipocytes with dexamethasone, insulin and IBMX (i.e. DIM) (Tontonoz) . 3T3-L1 cells (ATCC) are maintained in DMEM supplemented with 2 mM L-glutamine, 55 mg/ml gentamicine (BioWhittaker) and 10% calf serum (regular media) . Cells are plated at 80% confluency and induced to differentiate 2 days after reaching confluency by replacing the media with differentiation media (DMEM plus 10% fetal calf serum, 1.6 μM insulin, lμM dexamethasone and 500μM 3-Isobutyl-1-Methyl-Xanthine) . After 3 days the media is changed to DMEM plus 10% fetal calf serum and insulin. Three days later the cells are fixed in formalin and cellular lipids visualized by Oil Red 0 staining (S.W. Thompson, R.D. Hunt & Charles C. Thomas, Selected Histochemical and Histopathological Methods. Springfield, Illinois, 1966, p. 330) . 3T3-L1 cells are maintained in regular media or in differentiation media. A candidate compound is added with the differentiation media. Cells are fixed and stained with Oil Red O. A reduced adipocyte staining shows that the candidate compound block differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes. Although not as active as DIM, BRL 49653 also induces the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes and can be used to screen for a compound which blocks the inducement of adipocyte differentiation. Example 3. Triglyceride assay A candidate compound can also be examined for its effects on the triglyceride level of adipocyte cells. 3T3-L1 cells are differentiated in differentiation medium as described above in 96 well plates (Costar) . They are lysed in 50 μl PBS containing 0.1% NP40 for 10 minutes at room temperature. 5 μl is used to measure protein concentration by the method of Bradford (Bio-rad) . The remaining 45 μl is used to measure the triglyceride (GPO-Trinder) reagent (Sigma) . The optical density measured at 540 nanometers is normalized to the protein content. A compound which lowers the triglyceride level in a dose dependent manner is selected. Example 4. Screening for compounds that reduce the expression of PPARv protein with Northern blot assay Expression of adipocyte specific genes in a candidate compound treated cells can be examined by Northern blot analysis. 3T3-1 cells are differentiated by DIM inducement as described above. Poly(A) + RNA is isolated using PolyATract system (Promega) . PPARy (Kliewer) , LPL (Auwerx, Biochemistry 19:2651-2655, 1988) and actin (Clonetech) is labeled by random priming (Stratagene) . Northern blot analysis is performed with 2μg of poly (A) * RNA from undifferentiated cells, differentiated cells or from cells grown in differentiation media plus the candidate compound and hybridized to 32 P labeled PPARy, lipoprotein lipase probes. Both PPARy and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) are dramatically induced during 3T3-L1 differentiation. A candidate compound which significantly reduces PPARy and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is selected. A compound that does not significantly change actin expression is preferred for its specific activity on the expression of PPARy protein and an adipocyte specific marker, LPL, and the morphology of 3T3-L1 cells. Exa ple 5. Screening for PPARv antagonist in yeast or animals To screen for PPARy antagonist in yeast, PPARy is inserted into a suitable yeast vector and transferred into yeast and expressed. A reporter gene such as β-galactosidase, luciferase, secreted alkaline phosphatase, CAT or other reporter systems is constructed to be responsive to PPARy to measure the effects of compounds added to the yeast culture. BRL 49653 or any other PPARy agonist is used to activate PPARy. Compounds that antagonize the PPARy activity are selected. To screen for PPARy antagonist in animals, animals (e.g., mice or rats) are treated with BRL 49653 to increase their weights to a level higher than control (S.W. Thompson, R.D. Hunt & Charles C. Thomas, Selected Histochemical and Histopathological Methods. Springfield, Illinois, 1966, p. 330) . Compounds that can reverse the weight gain in animals are selected. Pharmaceutical Formulations and Modes of Administration The particular compound that affects the disorders or conditions of interest can be administered to a patient either by themselves, or in pharmaceutical compositions where it is mixed with suitable carriers or excipient (s) . In treating a patient exhibiting a disorder of interest, a therapeutically effective amount of an agent or agents is administered. A therapeutically effective dose refers to that amount of the compound that results in amelioration of symptoms or a prolongation of survival in a patient. In addition, the molecules tested can be used to determine the structural features that enable them to treat obesity, diabetes and other metabolic disorders, and thus to select molecules useful in this invention. Those skilled in the art will know how to design drugs from lead molecules, using techniques such as those disclosed in PCT publication WO 94/18959, incorporated by reference herein. Toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of such compounds can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals, e.g.. for determining the LD 50 (the dose lethal to 50% of the population) and the ED 50 (the dose therapeutically effective in 50% of the population) . The dose ratio between toxic and therapeutic effects is the therapeutic index and it can be expressed as the ratio LD 50 /ED 50 . Compounds which exhibit large therapeutic indices are preferred. The data obtained from these cell culture assays and animal studies can be used in formulating a range of dosage for use in human. The dosage of such compounds lies preferably within a range of circulating concentrations that include the ED 50 with little or no toxicity. The dosage may vary within this range depending upon the dosage form employed and the route of administration utilized. For any compound used in the method of the inven¬ tion, the therapeutically effective dose can be estimated initially from cell culture assays. For example, a dose can be formulated in animal models to achieve a circulating plasma concentration range that includes the IC 50 as determined in cell culture (i.e., the concentration of the test compound which achieves a half-maximal disruption of the protein 16 - complex, or a half-maximal inhibition of the cellular level and/or activity of a complex component) . Such information can be used to more accurately determine useful doses in humans. Levels in plasma may be measured, for example, by HPLC. The exact formulation, route of administration and dosage can be chosen by the individual physician in view of the patient's condition. (See e.g. Fingl et al . , in The Pharmacςpipgjςal Basis o Therapeutics, 1975, ch. 1 p. 1) . it should be noted that the attending physician would know how to and when to terminate, interrupt, or adjust administration due to toxicity, or to organ dysfunctions. Conversely, the attending physician would also know to adjust treatment to higher levels if the clinical response were not adequate (precluding toxicity) . The magnitude of an administrated dose in the management of the disorder of interest will vary with the severity of the condition to be treated and to the route of administration. The severity of the condition may, for example, be evaluated, in part, by standard prognostic evaluation methods. Further, the dose and perhaps dose frequency, will also vary according to the age, body weight, and response of the individual patient. A program comparable to that discussed above may be used in veterinary medicine. Depending on the specific conditions being treated, such agents may be formulated and administered systemically or locally. Techniques for formulation and administration may be found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences. 18th ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, PA (1990) . Suitable routes may include oral, rectal, transdermal, vaginal, transmucosal, or intestinal administration; parenteral delivery, including intramuscular, subcutaneous, intramedullary injections, as well as intrathecal, direct intraventricular, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intranasal, or intraocular injections, just to name a few. For injection, the agents of the invention may be formulated in aqueous solutions, preferably in physiologically compatible buffers such as Hanks ' s solution, Ringer's solution, or physiological saline buffer. For such transmucosal administration, penetrants appropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation. Such penetrants are generally known in the art . Use of pharmaceutically acceptable carriers to formulate the compounds herein disclosed for the practice of the invention into dosages suitable for systemic administration is within the scope of the invention. With proper choice of carrier and suitable manufacturing practice, the compositions of the present invention, in particular, those formulated as solutions, may be administered parenterally, such as by intravenous injection. The compounds can be formulated readily using pharmaceutically acceptable carriers well known in the art into dosages suitable for oral administration. Such carriers enable the compounds of the invention to be formulated as tab¬ lets, pills, capsules, liquids, gels, syrups, slurries, suspensions and the like, for oral ingestion by a patient to be treated. Agents intended to be administered intracellularly may be administered using techniques well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, such agents may be encapsulated into liposomes, then administered as described above. Liposomes are spherical lipid bilayers with aqueous interiors. All molecules present in an aqueous solution at the time of liposome formation are incorporated into the aqueous interior. The liposomal contents are both protected from the external microenvironment and, because liposomes fuse with cell membranes, are efficiently delivered into the cell cytoplasm. Additionally, due to their hydrophobicity, small organic molecules may be directly administered intracellularly. Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use in the present invention include compositions wherein the active ingredients are contained in an effective amount to achieve its intended purpose. Determination of the effective amounts is well within the capability of those skilled in the art. In addition to the active ingredients, these pharmaceutical compositions may contain suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers comprising excipients and auxiliaries which facilitate processing of the active compounds into preparations which can be used pharmaceutically. The preparations formulated for oral administration may be in the form of tablets, dragees, capsules, or solutions. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be manufactured in a manner that is itself known, e.g., by means of conventional mixing, dissolving, granulating, dragee- making, levitating, emulsifying, encapsulating, entrapping or lyophilizing processes. Pharmaceutical formulations for parenteral administration include aqueous solutions of the active compounds in water-soluble form. Additionally, suspensions of the active compounds may be prepared as appropriate oily injection suspensions. Suitable lipophilic solvents or vehicles include fatty oils such as sesame oil, or synthetic fatty acid esters, such as ethyl oleate or triglycerides, or liposomes. Aqueous injection suspensions may contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sorbitol, or dextran. Optionally, the suspension may also contain suitable stabiliz¬ ers or agents which increase the solubility of the compounds to allow for the preparation of highly concentrated solutions. Pharmaceutical preparations for oral use can be obtained by combining the active compounds with solid excipient, optionally grinding a resulting mixture, and processing the mixture of granules, after adding suitable auxiliaries, if desired, to obtain tablets or dragee cores. Suitable excipients are, in particular, fillers such as sugars, including lactose, sucrose, mannitol, or sorbitol; cellulose preparations such as, for example, maize starch, wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch, gelatin, gum tragacanth, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and/or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) . If desired, disintegrating agents may be added, such as the cross-linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone, agar, or alginic acid or a salt thereof such as sodium alginate. Dragee cores are provided with suitable coatings. For this purpose, concentrated sugar solutions may be used, which may optionally contain gum arabic, talc, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, carbopol gel, polyethylene glycol, and/or titanium dioxide, lacquer solutions, and suitable organic solvents or solvent mixtures. Dyestuffs or pigments may be added to the tablets or dragee coatings for identification or to characterize different combinations of active compound doses. Pharmaceutical preparations which can be used orally include push-fit capsules made of gelatin, as well as soft, sealed capsules made of gelatin and a plasticizer, such as glycerol or sorbitol. The push-fit capsules can contain the active ingredients in admixture with filler such as lactose, binders such as starches, and/or lubricants such as talc or magnesium stearate and, optionally, stabilizers. In soft capsules, the active compounds may be dissolved or suspended in suitable liquids, such as fatty oils, liquid paraffin, or liquid polyethylene glycols. In addition, stabilizers may be added. All publications referenced are incorporated by reference herein, including the nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences listed in each publication. All the compounds disclosed and referred to in the publications mentioned above are incorporated by reference herein, including those compounds disclosed and referred to in articles cited by the publications mentioned above. Other embodiments of this invention are disclosed in the following claims.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. Method for treating obesity in a mammal, comprising the step of administering to said mammal a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound which antagonizes the activity of PPARy protein. The method of claim 1, wherein said mammal is a human. 3. Method for treating obesity in a mammal, comprising the step of administering to said mammal a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound which reduces the expression of PPARy protein. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said mammal is a human. 5. Method of screening for a compound for treating obesity, comprising the steps of: providing an adipocyte cell; contacting said compound with said adipocyte cell; and measuring or detecting the level of triglyceride in said cell, wherein a significant decrease in said level comparing to the level before the contact of said compound with said cell is indicative of said compound being useful for treating obesity. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said compound antagonizes the activity of PPARy protein. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein said compound reduces the expression of PPARy protein. 8. Method of screening for a compound for treating obesity, comprising the steps of: providing a preadipocyte or adipocyte cell; contacting said compound with said cell; and measuring or detecting the level of lipoprotein lipase in said cell, wherein a significant decrease in said level comparing to the level before the contact of said compound with said cell is indicative of said compound being useful for treating obesity. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said compound antagonizes the activity of PPARy protein. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein said compound reduces the expression of PPARy protein.

Inventors: MUKHERJEE RANJAN, MUKHERJEE, RANJAN
Applicants: LIGAND PHARM INC, LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A61K31
IPC codes: A61K31, A61K45, G01N33