Patent ID: 8568969

Claim:
A method of identifying a compound that reduces circulating levels of RBP4 in the blood or tissue of a mammal comprising the steps of: a) administering a test compound to a mammal, wherein the mammal is a mouse that has been genetically or nutritionally engineered to exhibit insulin resistance; b) obtaining a biological sample from the mammal and performing an assay to determine the level of RBP4 protein, or characteristic fragment thereof, or RBP4 mRNA in the sample, and; c) comparing the level of RBP4 protein, or characteristic fragment thereof, or RBP4 mRNA in the sample after administration of the test compound to the level of RBP4 protein, or characteristic fragment thereof, or RBP4 mRNA in a control sample prior to administration of the test compound, wherein a decrease in RBP4 protein, or a characteristic fragment thereof, or RBP4 mRNA in the sample after administration of the test compound as compared to the control sample indicates that the compound reduces levels of RBP4 in the tissue or blood.