Patent ID: 7348155

Claim:
A method for identifying a compound that modifies the activity of urotensin II receptor resulting in a change in activity of a gene or activity or quantity of a gene product comprising: a] providing a cell in which urotensin II receptor is expressed, b] providing said compound, c] contacting said cell from a] with said compound from b], d] measuring the activity of the gene or activity or quantity of a gene product wherein the gene or the gene product is selected from the group consisting of metalloproteinase type 2 (MMP2,), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), e] measuring the activity of the gene or activity or quantity of a gene product from a control cell not contacted with said compound, and f] comparing the measurement from d] and e] wherein a difference obtained from f] identifies said compound as changing the activity of the gene or activity or quantity of a gene product resulting from modification of urotensin II receptor activity.