Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating energy metabolism and weight in mammals, in particular by modulating thermogenesis associated with brown fat, including thermogenesis by brown fat or brown fat cells, adaptive thermogenesis by brown fat or brown fat cells, thermogenic capacity of brown fat or brown fat cells, or a combination thereof. More specifically, methods and compositions provided herein for treating or preventing obesity, or methods and compositions for identifying compounds effective for treating or preventing obesity are taught in connection with ligands such as B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), their receptors, and molecules that modulate the interactions between the ligands and receptors.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating energy metabolism and weight in mammals, in particular by modulating thermogenesis associated with brown fat, including thermogenesis by brown fat or brown fat cells, adaptive thermogenesis by brown fat or brown fat cells, thermogenic capacity of brown fat or brown fat cells, or a combination thereof. More specifically, methods and compositions provided herein for treating or preventing obesity, or methods and compositions for identifying compounds effective for treating or preventing obesity are taught in connection with ligands such as B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), their receptors, and molecules that modulate the interactions between the ligands and receptors.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating energy metabolism and weight in mammals, in particular by modulating thermogenesis associated with brown fat, including thermogenesis by brown fat or brown fat cells, adaptive thermogenesis by brown fat or brown fat cells, thermogenic capacity of brown fat or brown fat cells, or a combination thereof. More specifically, methods and compositions provided herein for treating or preventing obesity, or methods and compositions for identifying compounds effective for treating or preventing obesity are taught in connection with ligands such as B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), their receptors, and molecules that modulate the interactions between the ligands and receptors.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating energy metabolism and weight in mammals, in particular by modulating thermogenesis associated with brown fat, including thermogenesis by brown fat or brown fat cells, adaptive thermogenesis by brown fat or brown fat cells, thermogenic capacity of brown fat or brown fat cells, or a combination thereof. More specifically, methods and compositions provided herein for treating or preventing obesity, or methods and compositions for identifying compounds effective for treating or preventing obesity are taught in connection with ligands such as B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), their receptors, and molecules that modulate the interactions between the ligands and receptors.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating or preventing diet-induced obesity and/or one or more sequelae thereof in a subject. These methods comprise administering to a subject in need of treatment or at risk for developing diet-induced obesity and/or one or more sequelae thereof, a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one inhibitor of RP 105 and/or MD-I activity. Also disclosed are methods of identifying compounds that inhibit development of diet-induced obesity and/or one or more sequelae thereof. In some aspects, these methods comprise: providing at least one first cell comprising TLR4, MD-2. RP105.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating energy metabolism and weight in mammals, in particular by modulating thermogenesis associated with brown fat, including thermogenesis by brown fat or brown fat cells, adaptive thermogenesis by brown fat or brown fat cells, thermogenic capacity of brown fat or brown fat cells, or a combination thereof. More specifically, methods and compositions provided herein for treating or preventing obesity, or methods and compositions for identifying compounds effective for treating or preventing obesity are taught in connection with ligands such as B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), their receptors, and molecules that modulate the interactions between the ligands and receptors.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating or preventing diet-induced obesity and/or one or more sequelae thereof in a subject. These methods comprise administering to a subject in need of treatment or at risk for developing diet-induced obesity and/or one or more sequelae thereof, a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one inhibitor of RP 105 and/or MD-I activity. Also disclosed are methods of identifying compounds that inhibit development of diet-induced obesity and/or one or more sequelae thereof. In some aspects, these methods comprise: providing at least one first cell comprising TLR4, MD-2. RP105.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods for treating an infection of a mammal by an organism, such as Leishmania major by administering an effective amount of an inhibitor of indolamine 2,3-dexygenase (IDO). A preferred inhibitor is 1-methyl-tryptophan (1MT). The treatment can be highly beneficial as a treatment for visceral leishmaniasis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a regulation of inflammation and immune responses. The present invention relates to a method of treating a condition comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of an activator of RP105. The condition is typically associated with TLR-4 activation and cytokine production. Conditions addressed by the invention include sepsis, septic shock, inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. The invention also provides the use of an activator of RP105 in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment of a condition associated with cytokine production and methods for identifying an activator of RP105, which is also suitable for use in the treatment of a condition associated with stimulus-induced cytokine production. More specifically the patent relates to the use of RP105 as a specific inhibitor of TLR4 signaling and as a physiological regulator of TLR4 signaling for the treatment of TLR4-mediated inflammation and immune-related diseases.

Abstract: The invention includes compositions and methods for selective suppression of IL-12 production in a cell. Methods of treating a human having a disease associated with dysregulated IL-12 production are also provided.