Methods for the treatment of metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes

A method for identifying a compound capable of modulating a MMP-12 mediated metabolic activity, comprising:

• (a) contacting a cell which expresses MMP-12 with a test compound;
• and
• (b) assaying the ability of the test compound to modulate the expression of a MMP-12 nucleic acid or the activity of a MMP-12 polypeptide, thereby identifying a compound capable of modulating a MMP-12 mediated metabolic activity.

A method for identifying a compound capable of modulating a MMP-12 mediated metabolic activity, comprising:

• (a) contacting a composition comprising a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or 5 with a test compound;
• and
• (b) assaying the ability of the test compound to modulate the activity of the polypeptide, thereby identifying a compound capable of modulating a MMP-12 mediated metabolic activity.

A method for modulating a MMP-12 mediated metabolic activity comprising contacting a cell or a tissue expressing the MMP-12 with a MMP-12 modulator, thereby modulating the MMP-12 mediated metabolic activity.

A method for treating a subject having a metabolic disorder characterized by aberrant MMP-12 polypeptide activity or aberrant MMP-12 nucleic acid expression, comprising administering to the subject a MMP-12 modulator, thereby treating the subject having a metabolic disorder.

A pharmaceutical formulation for the treatment of metabolic disorders, comprising a compound selected from:

• a) a compound that activates MMP-12 polypeptide activity or MMP-12 nucleic acid expression, and
• b) a compound that inhibits MMP-12 polypeptide activity or MMP-12 nucleic acid expression;
• wherein the formulation further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.