Metabolic syndrome is defined as a cluster of related diseases including type II diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis, which contribute to elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Typically, diagnosis identifies elevated values for blood sugar, blood pressure, and body weight. Not only is a staggering number of individuals afflicted, but the rate of increase is growing, particularly among children.
Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 4, 367–368 (May 2005)
Despite decades of concerted academic and pharmaceutical research, the underlying cause or causes of metabolic syndrome remain enigmatic, significantly due to the complicated orchestration of diverse and often antagonistic signals from many different organ systems within the body. Research has focused on several points which represent likely targets for pharmacology: Insulin and related signaling cascades (including insulin resistance), storage of fat and regulation of lipolysis, and endocrine signaling molecules (such as leptin, glucagon, GLP-1, and CNTF).
Our research tools are designed to facilitate study of these and related pathways.
Insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) are highly similar hormones which regulate glucose homeostasis, energy expenditure, and growth.
The failure of insulin to properly elicit biological effects which result in lowering of circulating glucose is a hallmark of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). The mechanisms by which the insulin resistant state arises, and pharmacologic means to treat the disease, have remained elusive.
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Growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) and EGF signal through membrane-localized receptor tyrosine kinases. As critical modulators of proliferation and metabolism, growth factors and their receptors represent a major class of potential drug targets.
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Fatty Acid Metabolism is a complex group of biochemical pathways responsible for a litany of diseases. Numerous enzymes involved in these pathways are targets of drug therapy currently under development.
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Ceramides are a family of lipids found in high concentrations in the cell membrane. These lipids perform a structural role in the cell membranes but also act as signaling molecules. They are implicated in the regulation of several biological cell functions such as cell differentiation, proliferation and programmed cell death. Many enzymes are known to interact with ceramides to carry out these functions.
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