Patent ID: 8231862

Claim:
A method for identifying a compound for the treatment of a condition related to insulin resistance in a mammal, wherein the compound decreases Retinol Binding Protein 4 (RBP4) activity, the method comprising the steps of: a) performing a screening assay to identify a candidate compound, the assay comprising contacting RBP4 or an RBP4/transthyretin (TTR) complex with a test compound and comparing the level of RBP4 activity in the presence of the test compound to the level of RBP4 activity in the absence of the test compound to determine a decrease in RBP4 activity, wherein a decrease in RBP4 activity is indicative of a candidate compound; b) administering an effective amount of the candidate compound to a mammal having a condition related to insulin resistance, and c) measuring the plasma or serum glucose or insulin level of the mammal wherein a decrease in the plasma/serum glucose level, or a decrease in plasma/serum insulin level indicates that the candidate compound is suitable for treating a condition related to insulin resistance in a mammal.