Method for modulating appetite

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of modulating appetite and/or body weight in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a MIC-1-modulating agent, wherein said agent increases or decreases the amount of MIC-1 present in said subject, or inhibits or enhances the biological activity of MIC-1 present in said subject.

1 . A method for increasing appetite and/or body weight in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a MIC-1 inhibiting agent optionally in admixture with a pharmacologically-acceptable carrier and/or excipient. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said MIC-1 inhibiting agent is an agent which decreases the amount of endogenous MIC-1 in said subject. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of anti-MIC-1 antibodies or fragments thereof, catalytic and inhibitory molecules targeted against the MIC-1 gene and inhibitors of MIC-1 transcription or translation. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said MIC-1 inhibiting agent is an agent which inhibits the activity of endogenous MIC-1 in said subject. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of anti-MIC-1 antibodies or fragments thereof, soluble extra-cytoplasmic receptor domains of MIC-1 receptors, soluble molecules or matrix-associated proteins that bind to MIC-1 and peptide, peptide mimetic or small organic molecule inhibitors of MIC-1 binding to its receptor. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said MIC-1 inhibiting agent is a humanised monoclonal anti-MIC-1 antibody. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subject is suffering from decreased appetite and/or weight loss associated with advanced cancer. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subject is suffering from decreased appetite and/or weight loss associated with inflammatory disease. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the subject is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subject is suffering from decreased appetite and/or weight loss associated with an epithelial cancer. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the subject is suffering from an epithelial cancer selected from breast, prostate, colonic, rectal, bladder and pancreatic cancer. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subject is suffering from decreased appetite and/or weight loss associated with a disease, condition or treatment characterised by MIC-1 over-expression. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the subject is suffering from injury, inflammation or stress. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subject is suffering from decreased appetite and/or weight loss associated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy.