Method for decreasing blood glucose and improving glucose tolerance using angiopoietin-like protein 4

Abstract

Angiopoietin like protein 4 is a novel circulating protein predominantly expressed in adipose tissue and liver. Several recent studies demonstrated that angiopoietin like protein 4 is the target gene of peroxisome proliferation activators, the agonists of which are widely used as the anti-diabetic and lipid-lowering drugs. The invention provides a method for decreasing blood glucose or improving insulin sensitivity in a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering to the patient an amount of angiopoietin like protein-4 (ANGPTL4) polypeptide effective to decrease blood glucose, to improve glucose tolerance, or to increase insulin sensitivity.