METHOD OF TREATING OBESITY AND METABOLIC DISORDERS RELATED TO EXCESS ADIPOSE TISSUE BY ADMINISTRATION OF sFRP-- PEPTIDE

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of reducing the amount of adipose tissue in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of an sFRP-5 peptide effective to reduce the amount of adipose tissue, or an amount of a molecule effective to stimulate expression of the sFRP-5 peptide in the subject. Also disclosed is a screen for molecules that can reduce the amount of adipose tissue in a subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of reducing the amount of adipose tissue in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of an sFRP-5 peptide effective to reduce the amount of adipose tissue, or an amount of a molecule effective to stimulate expression of the sFRP-5 peptide in the subject. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the molecule effective to stimulate expression of the sFRP-5 peptide in the subject is a polypeptide having 90% identity to SEQ ID NO. 1. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the polypeptide has 91% identity to SEQ ID NO. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the polypeptide has 92% identity to SEQ ID NO. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide has 95% identity to SEQ ID NO. 1. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the polypeptide has 99% identity to SEQ ID NO. 1. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises administration of an sFRP-5 peptide. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is human. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administration is parenteral, intradermal, transdermal, transmucosal, rectal, subcutaneous, or by inhalation. 
     
     
         10 . A method for identifying a molecule that reduces the amount of adipose tissue in a subject comprising
 (a) contacting a candidate molecule with tissue from the subject which expresses an sFRP-5 peptide; and   (b) determining the level of expression of sFRP-5 or fragment thereof by the cell contacted by the candidate molecule,   wherein a molecule that induces an increase in the level of exression of sFRP-5 peptide is a molecule capable of reducing the amount of adipose tissue in the subject.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the candidate molecule is a polypeptide having 90% identity to SEQ ID NO. 1. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the polypeptide has 91% identity to SEQ ID NO. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the polypeptide has 92% identity to SEQ ID NO. 1. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the polypeptide has 95% identity to SEQ ID NO. 1. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the polypeptide has 99% identity to SEQ ID NO. 1. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the polypeptide is an sFRP-5 peptide. 
     
     
         17 . A method of reducing the level of adipose tissue formation in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of an sFRP-5 peptide effective to reduce the level of adipose tissue formation, or an amount of a molecule effective to stimulate expression of the sFRP-5 peptide in the subject.