Methods and compositions for modulating adipocyte function

1. A method of decreasing fat stores or weight in a subject, the method comprising identifying a subject in need of decreasing fat stores or weight, and administering a composition to the subject, wherein the composition consists essentially of a therapeutically effective amount of a bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) polypeptide, in an amount sufficient to promote BAT differentiation and one or more agents selected from the group consisting of: bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP-1), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), bone morphogenetic protein 3 (BMP-3), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4), bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6), PPARγ, Retinoid X receptor alpha (RxRa), insulin, triiodothyronine (T3), thiazolidinedione (TZD), vitamin A, retinoic acid, glucocorticoid or agonist thereof, Wnt, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), Epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), transforming growth factor α (TGFα), transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), tumor necrosis factor alpha, (TNFα), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).

2. A method of treating obesity comprising identifying a subject that is obese, and administering a composition to the subject, wherein the composition consists essentially of a therapeutically effective amount of bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP-7) polypeptide, in an amount sufficient to promote BAT differentiation, and one or more an additional agents selected from the group consisting of: bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP-1), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), bone morphogenetic protein 3 (BMP-3), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4), bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6), PPARγ, Retinoid X receptor alpha (RxRa), insulin, triiodothyronine (T3), thiazolidinedione (TZD), vitamin A, retinoic acid, glucocorticoid or agonist thereof, Wnt, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), Epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), transforming growth factor α (TGFα), transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), tumor necrosis factor alpha, (TNFα), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).

3. A method for therapeutically treating obesity comprising identifying a subject that is obese or overweight, and administering a composition to the subject, wherein the composition consists essentially of a therapeutically effective amount of bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP-7) polypeptide, and one or more additional agents selected from the group consisting of: bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP-1), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), bone morphogenetic protein 3 (BMP-3), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4), bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6), PPARγ, Retinoid X receptor alpha (RxRa), insulin, triiodothyronine (T3), thiazolidinedione (TZD), vitamin A, retinoic acid, glucocorticoid or agonist thereof, Wnt, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), Epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), transforming growth factor α (TGFα), transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), tumor necrosis factor alpha, (TNFα), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).

4. The method of claim 1 , 2 or 3 , wherein the BMP-7 polypeptide comprises amino acid residues 293-431 of SEQ ID NO: 5.

5. The method of claim 1 , 2 or 3 , wherein the composition is administered to a site of adipose tissue.

6. The method of claim 1 , 2 or 3 , wherein the composition is administered subcutaneously.