Repurposing an arthritis drug to lower leptin and help insulin resistance
Molecular regulation of leptin bioavailability
This project looks at whether the arthritis medicine auranofin can lower leptin, a hormone linked to obesity, and improve insulin sensitivity for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11292860 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I want treatments that can fix the way fat tissue sends signals that affect blood sugar. The team is studying auranofin in preclinical models of obesity to see if the drug accumulates in white fat, reduces leptin release, and restores beta-adrenergic signaling in fat cells. They will measure leptin levels, fat-cell responses, and whole-body insulin sensitivity in these models to understand how the drug changes metabolism. The goal is to gather evidence that could support future testing in people with obesity-related diabetes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal future candidates would be adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar remains uncontrolled by lifestyle measures alone.
Not a fit: People without obesity or those with insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to a repurposed drug that reduces harmful leptin signaling and improves blood sugar control in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary animal data from the investigators show auranofin lowers leptin and improves insulin sensitivity in obese mice, but this approach has not yet been tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hartig, Sean — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Hartig, Sean
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.