Brown Fat Cell Compositions and Methods
Methods of developing and using cell lines, such as stem cell lines, for therapeutic or cosmetic use. In one embodiment the cell lines are used to treat a wide range of degenerative and metabolic disorders including, but not limited to, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiac deficiency. Also described are methods of using such cell lines to screen for compounds that play a role in regulating a variety of processes.
1 - 12 . (canceled)
13 . A method of identifying a compound involved in metabolism regulation, comprising:
isolating a stem cell from the brown fat tissue; culturing the stem cell in a medium not comprising an animal product;
contacting the stem cell with a test compound;
determining the level of metabolic activity of the stem cell in the presence of the test compound; and
comparing the level of metabolic activity of the stem cell in the presence of the test compound to a level of metabolic activity of the stem cell in the absence of the test compound,
wherein a level of metabolic activity in the presence of the test compound that is different from a level of metabolic activity in the absence of the test compound identifies the test compound as a compound involved in metabolism regulation.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the determining comprises measuring adipogenesis.
15 . The method of claim 14 , comprising detecting the levels of one or more of PRDM16, BMP7, UCP1, UCP2, or MYF5.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the test compound is selected from the group consisting of protein, antibody, peptide, mutein, polynucleotide, nucleic acid aptamer, and small molecule.
17 - 21 . (canceled)