Method For Activating Efferent Sympathetic Nerves Innervating Adipose Tissues To Improve Obesity And Symptoms Associated Therewith

• US 20080293830A1
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tohoku University National Universities Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tohoku University National Universities Corporation
• Inventors: OKA, Yoshitomo, KATAGIRI, Hideki, YAMADA, Tetsuya, UNO, Kenji
• Granted Patent: US 7,815,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 514/789
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2207/05 Animals modified by non-integrating nucleic acids, e.g. antisense, RNAi, morpholino, episomal vector, for non-therapeutic purpose
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2267/0362 Animal model for lipid/glucose metabolism, e.g. obesity, type-2 diabetes
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/04 Anorexiants; Antiobesity agents
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/70567 Nuclear receptors, e.g. retinoic acid receptor [RAR], RXR, nuclear orphan receptors
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8509 for producing genetically modified animals, e.g. transgenic
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2799/022 where the vector is derived from an adenovirus
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2799/04 in vivo
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2500/00 Screening for compounds of potential therapeutic value
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/042 Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, e.g. diabetes, glucose metabolism
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/044 Hyperlipemia or hypolipemia, e.g. dyslipidaemia, obesity

Abstract

A method for activating an efferent sympathetic nerve innervating an adipose tissue and improving obesity-associated symptoms is provided, comprising stimulating an afferent vagal nerve from the liver without directly enhancing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ2 function in the liver.

Claims

1. A method for activating an efferent sympathetic nerve innervating an adipose tissue, comprising stimulating an afferent vagal nerve from the liver without directly enhancing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ

2 function in the liver.

2. A method for diminishing an adipose tissue, comprising stimulating an afferent vagal nerve from the liver without directly enhancing PPARγ

2 function in the liver.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the adipose tissue is a white adipose tissue (WAT) and/or a brown adipose tissue (BAT).

4. A method for increasing systemic energy expenditure, comprising stimulating an afferent vagal nerve from the liver without directly enhancing PPARγ

2 function in the liver.

5. A method for suppressing weight gain or obesity, comprising stimulating an afferent vagal nerve from the liver without directly enhancing PPARγ

2 function in the liver.

6. A method for improving an obesity-associated symptom, comprising stimulating an afferent vagal nerve from the liver without directly enhancing PPARγ

2 function in the liver.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the obesity-associated symptom is selected from the group consisting of diabetes, hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance.

8. A method for screening for a substance for weight reduction, comprising screening for a substance that excites an afferent vagal nerve from the liver.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the substance is derived from culture supernatant of a hepatocyte in which PPARγ

2 is overexpressed.

10. A method for screening for a substance for improving an obesity-associated symptom, comprising screening for a substance that excites an afferent vagal nerve from the liver.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the obesity-associated symptom is selected from the group consisting of diabetes, hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the substance is derived from culture supernatant of a hepatocyte in which PPARγ

2 is overexpressed.