Patent ID: 6972175

Claim:
A method for determining whether an agent increases PPAR-γ-mediated inhibition of Egr-1 expression in a cell comprising (a) (i) contacting the agent with the cell, and (ii) subjecting the cell to a stimulus known to increase Egr-1 expression in a cell, wherein steps (i) and (ii) are performed concurrently or in sequence; (b) determining the amount of Egr-1 expression in the cell; (c) comparing the amount of Egr-1 expression determined in step (b) to the amount of Egr-1 expression observed in the cell in the absence of the agent, wherein the amount of Egr-1 expression in the absence of the agent being greater than that in the presence of the agent indicates that the agent inhibits Egr-1 expression in the cell; and (d) comparing the amount of Egr-1 expression determined in step (b) with the amount of Egr-1 expression observed in the presence of the agent and under conditions known to inhibit PPAR-γ activation, wherein the amount of Egr-1 expression in the presence of the agent under such conditions being greater than that determined in step (b) indicates that the agent increases PPAR-γ-mediated inhibition of Egr-1 expression.