Method of predicting obesity comprising measuring neurotensin
AssigneesUniversity of Kentucky Research Foundation, University of Massachusetts
InventorsB. Mark Evers, Jing Li, Paul Dobner, Olle Melander
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a method for predicting increased risk of obesity on a non-obese subject. More particularly, the presently disclosed subject matter relates to a method of predicting increased risk of obesity in a non-obese subject by determining a level of neurotensin expression in a biological sample from the subject and comparing the level of neurotensin expression in the sample with a control level. The presently disclosed subject matter further relates to a method of preventing and/or treating obesity in a subject in need thereof by administering to the subject an effective amount of an agent that inhibits neurotensin.
Claims17
A method of predicting increased risk of obesity in a non-obese subject, comprising:
- (a) obtaining a biological sample from the non-obese subject;
- (b) detecting an amount of neurotensin in the biological sample;
- (c) detecting the phosphorylation level of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the biological sample;
- (d) determining that the subject has an increased risk of obesity if there is an increased amount of neurotensin and a decreased amount of AMPK phosphorylation in the sample as compared to normal levels;
- and
- (e) administering an effective amount of a neurotensin inhibitor;
- wherein the neurotensin inhibitor is an NTR1 antagonist.
A method of predicting increased risk of obesity in a non-obese subject, comprising:
- (a) obtaining a biological sample from the non-obese subject;
- (b) detecting an amount of neurotensin in the biological sample;
- (c) detecting the phosphorylation level of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the biological sample;
- (d) determining that the subject has an increased risk of obesity if there is an increased amount of neurotensin and a decreased amount of AMPK phosphorylation in the sample as compared to normal levels;
- and
- (e) administering an effective amount of a neurotensin inhibitor;
- wherein the neurotensin inhibitor is a non-peptide NTR1 antagonist.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.