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

Abstract

Systems and methods for screening whether a candidate compound inhibits delta-6 desaturase activity are disclosed. Also disclosed is a transgenic mammal which overexpresses a gene encoding delta-6 desaturase and an animal model of a cardiometabolic disorder or disease that includes the transgenic mammal. A method of treating a cardiometabolic disorder or disease is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transgenic knock-in mammal characterized by overexpression of D6D, wherein the transgenic mammal comprises a genetically modified genome comprising at least one additional endogenous gene encoding a delta-6 desaturase. 
     
     
         2 . The transgenic mammal of  claim 1 , wherein the endogenous gene encoding the delta-6 desaturase is fads2. 
     
     
         3 . The transgenic mammal of  claim 1 , wherein the transgenic mammal is a rodent. 
     
     
         4 . The transgenic mammal of  claim 1 , wherein the transgenic mammal is a mouse. 
     
     
         5 . The transgenic mammal of  claim 1 , wherein the transgenic mammal is a rat. 
     
     
         6 . An animal model for studying a cardiometabolic disease or disorder in a mammal, the animal model comprising a mammal having a heterozygous promotion of at least one endogenous gene encoding a delta-6 desaturase. 
     
     
         7 . The animal model of  claim 6 , wherein the endogenous gene encoding the delta-6 desaturase is fads2. 
     
     
         8 . The animal model of  claim 7 , wherein the animal model is a rodent. 
     
     
         9 . The animal model of  claim 7 , wherein the animal mod& is a mouse. 
     
     
         10 . The animal model of  claim 7 , wherein the animal model is a rat. 
     
     
         11 . The animal model of  claim 7 , wherein the cardiometabolic disease or disorder is selected from hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress.