Composition comprising farnesol and use thereof

Abstract

A method of increasing PGC-1α gene expression, decreasing PARIS gene expression, or promoting farnesylation of PARIS in a mammalian cell, the method comprising administering an effective amount of farnesol, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate thereof to the cell; and related methods and compositions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of converting muscle type II into muscle type I in a subject, or increasing muscle type I in a subject, the method comprising administering an effective amount of farnesol, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate thereof to the subject;
 or   a method of strengthening muscles or increasing exercise performance in a subject, the method comprising administering an effective amount of farnesol, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate to the subject.   
     
     
         2 . A method of screening for a compound that reduces PGC-1α expression in a mammalian cell, the method comprising:
 contacting a candidate compound with the mammalian cell; and 
 measuring PARIS expression level or farnesylation level of PARIS protein in the cell, 
 selecting the candidate compound as capable of reducing PGC-1α expression in the mammalian cell when the PARIS expression level is reduced or the farnesylation level of PARIS protein is increased, compared to that of a mammalian cell of the same type that is not contacted with the candidate compound. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the farnesylation occurs at the cysteine residue of position 631 of PARIS. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the method is used to identify a compound for treating sarcopenia, muscle fibrosis, muscular atrophy, obesity, or diabetes. 
     
     
         5 . A method of evaluating exercise level in a mammalian subject, the method comprising:
 measuring an expression level of PARIS gene or a farnesylation level of PARIS protein in a cell of the mammalian subject; and   comparing the obtained expression level of PARIS gene or the obtained farnesylation level of PARIS protein with a predetermined value.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising determining that the subject sufficiently exercises when the expression level of PARIS gene thus obtained is lower than the predetermined value; or determining that the subject does not sufficiently exercise when the expression level of PARIS gene thus obtained is higher than the predetermined value; or determining that the subject sufficiently exercises when the farnesylation level of PARIS protein thus obtained is higher than the predetermined value; or determining that the subject does not sufficiently exercise when the farnesylation level of PARIS protein thus obtained is lower than the predetermined value. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined value is the level of a normal healthy person or the level of the same subject before performing exercise. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined value is an expression level of PARIS gene that is 10% or lower than the expression level of PARIS gene of the same subject before performing exercise. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined value is a farnesylation level of PARIS protein that is 10% or higher than the farnesylation level of PARIS protein of the same subject before performing exercise.