Milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 regulates fatty acid uptake

Abstract

Methods and compositions for regulating fatty acid uptake and/or decreasing gastric motility in an animal are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of increasing fatty acid uptake and/or decreasing gastric motility in an animal, the method comprising,
 administering a polypeptide comprising (i) Milk Fat Globule Epidermal Growth Factor 8 (Mfge8), or (ii) an integrin-binding portion of Mfge8, to an animal in an amount sufficient to increase fatty acid uptake and/or to decrease gastric motility in the animal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Mfge8 is human Mfge8 (SEQ ID NO:1) or is at least 80% identical to (i) SEQ ID NO:1 or (ii) an integrin-binding portion of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animal is human 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the animal is under two or one years or under six, five, four, three, two, or one months old. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animal is a premature human infant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animal is diabetic or has cystic fibrosis. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is administered intravenously, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, rectally, or orally. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the polypeptide is administered as a component of a composition selected from the group consisting of a powder, a tablet, a capsule, a lozenge, a chewing gum, a food product, a supplemented beverage, or a medical food. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the food product is infant formula. 
     
     
         10 . A composition comprising a polypeptide comprising (i) Milk Fat Globule Epidermal Growth Factor 8 (Mfge8), or (ii) an integrin-binding portion of Mfge8. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the Mfge8 is human Mfge8 (SEQ ID NO:1) or is at least 80% identical to (i) SEQ ID NO:1 or (ii) an integrin-binding portion of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the composition is selected from the group consisting of a powder, a tablet, a capsule, a lozenge, a chewing gum, a food product, a supplemented beverage, or a medical food. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 10 , further comprising a bovine milk protein, a soy protein, betalactoglobulin, whey, soybean oil or starch. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said supplemented beverage is a member selected from the group consisting of an infant formula, follow-on formula, toddler's beverage, milk, fruit juice, and fruit-based drink.