Insulin resistance marker

Abstract

It is provided an insulin resistance marker, a method of evaluating insulin resistance, a method of screening a substance that improves insulin resistance, and a pharmaceutical composition for improving insulin resistance. An insulin resistance marker including a polypeptide comprising at least any 15 continuous amino acids in the specific amino acid sequence (sequence of a proepithelin protein). An insulin resistance marker including a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of a polynucleotide comprising at least any 45 continuous bases in the base sequence encoding the above specific amino acid sequence, and a polynucleotide that is complementary to the polynucleotide.

1 . An insulin resistance marker including a polypeptide comprising at least any 15 continuous amino acids in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         2 . A method of evaluating insulin resistance, including the steps of:
 measuring a level of a polypeptide comprising at least any 15 continuous amino acids in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, in a sample derived from an individual which is an object of evaluation of insulin resistance, and   comparing the obtained measured level with a normal level of the polypeptide,   wherein an increase of the obtained measured level compared with the normal level is regarded as one index indicating that the objective individual has high possibility of being in the condition of insulin resistance.   
     
     
         3 . A method of screening a substance for improving insulin resistance, including the steps of:
 bringing a sample containing a polypeptide comprising at least any 15 continuous amino acids in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or a cell capable of expressing or secreting the polypeptide, into contact with a candidate substance;   measuring a level of the polypeptide or an expression level or a secretion level of the polypeptide in the cell when the candidate substance is brought into contact, and   comparing the measured level of the polypeptide or the measured expression level or the measured secretion level of the polypeptide in the cell when the candidate substance is brought into contact, with a level of the polypeptide or an expression level or a secretion level of the polypeptide in the cell when the candidate substance is not brought into contact,   wherein a reduction of the measured level, the measured expression level or the measured secretion level when the candidate substance is brought into contact, compared with the level, the expression level or the secretion level when the candidate substance is not brought into contact, is regarded as one index for selecting the candidate substance as a substance that improves insulin resistance.   
     
     
         4 . A method of screening a substance that improves insulin resistance, including the steps of:
 bringing a sample containing a polypeptide comprising at least any 15 continuous amino acids in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or a cell that expresses or secretes the polypeptide, into contact with a candidate substance;   measuring a function of the polypeptide or a function of the polypeptide in the cell when the candidate substance is brought into contact, and   comparing the measured function of the polypeptide or the measured function of the polypeptide in the cell when the candidate substance is brought into contact, with the function of the polypeptide or the function of the polypeptide in the cell when the candidate substance is not brought into contact,   wherein the measured function when the candidate substance is brought into contact being more controlled compared with the function when the candidate substance is not brought into contact, is regarded as one index for selecting the candidate substance as a substance that improves insulin resistance.   
     
     
         5 . A pharmaceutical composition for improving insulin resistance including a polypeptide comprising at least any 15 continuous amino acids in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         6 . A pharmaceutical composition for improving insulin resistance including an antibody against a polypeptide comprising at least any 15 continuous amino acids in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         7 . A pharmaceutical composition for improving insulin resistance including a substance that controls an expression level or a secretion level of a polypeptide comprising at least any 15 continuous amino acids in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         8 . A pharmaceutical composition for improving insulin resistance including a substance that controls a function by a polypeptide comprising at least any 15 continuous amino acids in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         9 . An insulin resistance marker including a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of a polynucleotide comprising at least any 45 continuous bases in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 and a polynucleotide that is complementary to the polynucleotide. 
     
     
         10 . A method of evaluating insulin resistance, including the steps of:
 measuring a level of a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of a polynucleotide comprising at least any 45 continuous bases in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 and a polynucleotide complementary to the polynucleotide, in a sample derived from an individual which is an object of evaluation of insulin resistance, and   comparing the obtained measured level with a normal level of the polynucleotide,   wherein an increase of the obtained measured level compared with the normal level is regarded as one index indicating that the objective individual has high possibility of being in the condition of insulin resistance.   
     
     
         11 . A method of screening a substance for improving insulin resistance, including the steps of:
 bringing a sample containing a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of a polynucleotide comprising at least any 45 continuous bases in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 and a polynucleotide complementary to the polynucleotide, or a cell capable of expressing the polynucleotide, into contact with a candidate substance;   measuring a level of the polynucleotide or an expression level of the polynucleotide in the cell when the candidate substance is brought into contact, and   comparing the measured level of the polynucleotide or the measured expression level of the polynucleotide in the cell when the candidate substance is brought into contact, with a level of the polynucleotide or an expression level of the polynucleotide in the cell when the candidate substance is not brought into contact,   wherein a reduction of the measured level or the measured expression level when the candidate substance is brought into contact, compared with the level or the expression level when the candidate substance is not brought into contact, is regarded as one index for selecting the candidate substance as a substance that improves insulin resistance.   
     
     
         12 . A pharmaceutical composition for improving insulin resistance including a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of a polynucleotide comprising at least any 45 continuous bases in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 and a polynucleotide complementary to the polynucleotide. 
     
     
         13 . A pharmaceutical composition for improving insulin resistance including a substance that controls an expression level of a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of a polynucleotide comprising at least any 45 continuous bases in the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 and a polynucleotide complementary to the polynucleotide, as an active ingredient.