Abstract: Formulations of HDAC6 inhibitors passing through the blood brain barrier in hypothalamus and inhibiting HDAC6 in the arctuate AgRP neurons in the hypothalamus, are effective to cause weight loss in obese individuals. These inhibitors also restore leptin sensitivity in leptin-resistant individuals.

Abstract: Pentacyclic triterpene weight loss agents are provided herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations containing a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the weight loss agents, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The pharmaceutical formulations can be administered to a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient to induce weight loss, reduce body fat, reduce food intake, improve glucose homeostasis, prevent obesity, or a combination thereof. The weight loss agents can also be co-administered with leptin or a leptin analog.

Abstract: Pentacyclic triterpene weight loss agents are provided herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations containing a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the weight loss agents, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The pharmaceutical formulations can be administered to a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient to induce weight loss, reduce body fat, reduce food intake, improve glucose homeostasis, prevent obesity, or a combination thereof. The weight loss agents can also be co-administered with leptin or a leptin analog.

Abstract: Pentacyclic triterpene weight loss agents are provided herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations containing a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the weight loss agents, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The pharmaceutical formulations can be administered to a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient to induce weight loss, reduce body fat, reduce food intake, improve glucose homeostasis, prevent obesity, or a combination thereof. The weight loss agents can also be co-administered with leptin or a leptin analog.

Abstract: Pentacyclic triterpene weight loss agents are provided herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations containing a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the weight loss agents, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The pharmaceutical formulations can be administered to a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient to induce weight loss, reduce body fat, reduce food intake, improve glucose homeostasis, prevent obesity, or a combination thereof. The weight loss agents can also be co-administered with leptin or a leptin analog.

Abstract: A method of reducing blood glucose in a subject has been developed. In preferred embodiments, the method involves administering to the subject a specific activator of endogenous mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK3), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK4), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK6), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), mitogen-activated kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2), or a combination thereof, in an effective amount to reduce blood glucose in a subject. In other embodiments, the method involves administering to the subject a specific activator to increase X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) phosphorylation on Thr48 and Ser61 in an effective amount to reduce blood glucose in the subject. Methods of identifying agents for reducing blood glucose in a subject are also provided.

Abstract: Pentacyclic triterpene compounds are provided herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations containing a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the compounds, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The pharmaceutical formulations can be administered to a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient to induce weight loss, reduce body fat, reduce food intake, improve glucose homeostasis, prevent obesity, or a combination thereof. The compounds can also be co-administered with leptin or a leptin analog.

Abstract: Pentacyclic triterpene compounds are provided herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations containing a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the compounds, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The pharmaceutical formulations can be administered to a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient to induce weight loss, reduce body fat, reduce food intake, improve glucose homeostasis, prevent obesity, or a combination thereof. The compounds can also be co-administered with leptin or a leptin analog.

Abstract: Pentacyclic triterpene weight loss agents are provided herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations containing a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the weight loss agents, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The pharmaceutical formulations can be administered to a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient to induce weight loss, reduce body fat, reduce food intake, improve glucose homeostasis, prevent obesity, or a combination thereof. The weight loss agents can also be co-administered with leptin or a leptin analog.

Abstract: Pentacyclic triterpene weight loss agents are provided herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations containing a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the weight loss agents, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The pharmaceutical formulations can be administered to a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient to induce weight loss, reduce body fat, reduce food intake, improve glucose homeostasis, prevent obesity, or a combination thereof. The weight loss agents can also be co-administered with leptin or a leptin analog.

Abstract: Pentacyclic triterpene weight loss agents are provided herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations containing a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the weight loss agents, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The pharmaceutical formulations can be administered to a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient to induce weight loss, reduce body fat, reduce food intake, improve glucose homeostasis, prevent obesity, or a combination thereof. The weight loss agents can also be co-administered with leptin or a leptin analog.

Abstract: A method of reducing blood glucose in a subject has been developed. In preferred embodiments, the method involves administering to the subject a specific activator of endogenous mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK3), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK4), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK6), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), mitogen-activated kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2), or a combination thereof, in an effective amount to reduce blood glucose in a subject. In other embodiments, the method involves administering to the subject a specific activator to increase X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) phosphorylation on Thr48 and Ser61 in an effective amount to reduce blood glucose in the subject. Methods of identifying agents for reducing blood glucose in a subject are also provided.

Abstract: Pentacyclic triterpene weight loss agents are provided herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations containing a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the weight loss agents, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The pharmaceutical formulations can be administered to a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient to induce weight loss, reduce body fat, reduce food intake, improve glucose homeostasis, prevent obesity, or a combination thereof. The weight loss agents can also be co-administered with leptin or a leptin analog.

Abstract: A method of reducing blood glucose in a subject has been developed. In preferred embodiments, the method involves administering to the subject a specific activator of endogenous mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK3), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK4), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK6), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), mitogen-activated kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2), or a combination thereof, in an effective amount to reduce blood glucose in a subject. In other embodiments, the method involves administering to the subject a specific activator to increase X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) phosphorylation on Thr48 and Ser61 in an effective amount to reduce blood glucose in the subject. Methods of identifying agents for reducing blood glucose in a subject are also provided.

Abstract: HSP 90 inhibitors for the promotion of weight loss, as well as formulations containing these inhibitors and methods of using thereof, are described herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing a therapeutically effective amount of a weight loss agent, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The pharmaceutical compositions can be administered to induce weight loss in a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient, reduce body fat in a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient, reduce food intake in a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient, improve glucose homeostasis in a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient, or combinations thereof. In particular embodiments, the weight loss agent is co-administered with leptin or a leptin analog.

Abstract: Compositions containing an FKBP 11 peptide (i.e., FKBP11 polypeptide, a variant or a fragment thereof), a fusion protein containing an FKBP11 peptide, or a nucleic acid encoding an FKBP 11 peptide are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of reducing blood glucose levels, improving glucose tolerance, decreasing hepatic gluconeogenic activity and/or improving insulin sensitivity in a subject, by administering a composition containing an FKBP 11 peptide or a fusion protein containing an FKBP11 peptide. The methods can include administering nucleic acids encoding an FKBP 11 peptide or a fusion protein containing an FK BP11 peptide, to the subject, or cells expressing the nucleic acids. Kits containing an FKBP 11 peptide, are also provided.

Abstract: Weight loss agents include compounds defined by Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, compositions containing the same, and methods of use thereof are described herein. In some embodiments, the compound is Withaferin A. In other embodiments, the compound is Michael addition product of Withaferin A. The compounds can be administered to induce weight loss in a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient, reduce body fat in a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient, reduce food intake in a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient, improve glucose homeostasis in a pre-obese, obese, or morbidly obese patient, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method of reducing blood glucose in a subject has been developed. In preferred embodiments, the method involves administering to the subject a specific activator of endogenous mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK3), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK4), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK6), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), mitogen-activated kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2), or a combination thereof, in an effective amount to reduce blood glucose in a subject. In other embodiments, the method involves administering to the subject a specific activator to increase X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) phosphorylation on Thr48 and Ser61 in an effective amount to reduce blood glucose in the subject. Methods of identifying agents for reducing blood glucose in a subject are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of obesity. The methods and compositions relate to the use of an agent that reduces or prevents endoplasmic reticulum stress in conjunction with leptin.

Abstract: A method of reducing blood glucose in a subject has been developed. In preferred embodiments, the method involves administering to the subject a specific activator of endogenous mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK3), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK4), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK6), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), mitogen-activated kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2), or a combination thereof, in an effective amount to reduce blood glucose in a subject. In other embodiments, the method involves administering to the subject a specific activator to increase X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) phosphorylation on Thr48 and Ser61 in an effective amount to reduce blood glucose in the subject. Methods of identifying agents for reducing blood glucose in a subject are also provided.