Inhibition of delta-6 desaturase for the treatment of cardiometabolic disease

1. A method for identifying a test compound as a candidate compound for the treatment of a cardiometabolic disease or disorder in a mammal by inhibition of delta-6 desaturase, the method comprising a) contacting a mammalian delta-6 desaturase (D6D) with the test compound; b) determining a change in the level of at least one index of D6D activity in the presence of the test compound, wherein the at least one index of D6D activity is selected from the arachidonic acid/linoleic acid (AA/LA) ratio, or the level of a proinflammatory eicosanoid; and c) determining a change in the level of at least one index of a cardiometabolic disease-related disorder, wherein the at least one index of the cardiometabolic disease-related disorder is selected from any one or more of: blood or serum glucose level, glucose tolerance, blood or serum insulin level, insulin resistance, liver macrophage content, or insulin receptor inactivation (IRS-1 phosphorylation); wherein a decreased level of D6D activity and a decreased level of a cardiometabolic disease-related disorder in the presence of the test compound relative to a level of D6D activity and a level of a cardiometabolic disease-related disorder in the absence of the test compound identifies the test compound as a candidate compound for the treatment of a cardiometabolic disease or disorder in a mammal.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein contacting the mammalian D6D with the test compound comprises administering an amount of the candidate compound to a mammal, and determining a change in the level of the at least one index of D6D enzymatic activity and a change in the level of the at least one index of a cardiometabolic disease-related disorder in the presence of the test compound comprises: determining a first value of at least one index of D6D enzymatic activity and a first value of at least one index of the cardiometabolic disease-related disorder before the administration of the candidate compound to the mammal; maintaining the mammal for a time and under conditions sufficient to allow the candidate compound to modify D6D enzymatic activity in the mammal; determining a second value for the at least one index of D6D activity and a second value for the at least one index of the cardiometabolic disease-related disorder after the administration of the candidate compound to the mammal; comparing the first value and the second value of the at least one index of D6D enzymaticactivity, wherein a reduced second value relative to the first value is indicative that the candidate compound reduces D6D enzymatic activity in vivo; and comparing the first value and the second value of the at least one index of the cardiometabolic disease-related disorder, wherein a reduced second value relative to the first value is indicative that the candidate compound reduces cardiometabolic disease or disorder in vivo.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one index of D6D activity is determined from a first tissue measurement and a second tissue measurement taken from a tissue selected from any one or more of: serum, liver, heart or muscle.

4. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the mammal is an animal model of human cardiometabolic disease.

5. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the mammal is a murine model of hyperphagic obesity comprising a leptin-deficient ob mouse.

6. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the mammal is a murine model of diet-induced insulin resistance comprising a normal mouse maintained on a fat-enriched (“western”) diet for a period of at least about 12 weeks.

7. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the mammal is a transgenic mouse which overexpresses the fatty acid desaturase 6 (fads2) gene.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the cardiometabolic disease-related disorder is selected from any one or more of: hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hyperlipidemia, chronic inflammation, or oxidative stress.