WO2011087857A2 - Compositions and methods for treating obesity and diabetes - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are methods of modulating the expression of genes linked to adipocytokine signaling, carbohydrate metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, PPAR signaling, insulin signaling, lipid metabolism, extracellular matrix (ECM) -receptor interaction, or combinations thereof, methods of treating hyperlipidemia, obesity, excessive cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, diabetes, or combinations thereof, and methods of stimulating glucose uptake in an animal in need thereof, comprising administering a composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin to said animal.

Description

COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR TREATING OBESITY AND DIABETES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/284,623, filed on December 22, 2009, and of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/399,224, filed on July 8, 2010, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable

BACKGROUND

I. Field

The present invention relates to the use of isoflavonoid phytoalexin compounds, Glyceollins I,

II, and III, found in soy plants grown under stressed conditions, as a method of treating and/ or preventing conditions such as hyperlipidemia, obesity, excessive cholesterol, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, liver disease, and combinations thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

Obesity is reaching epidemic proportions in Western populations and is commonly attributed to the high fat consumption and the sedentary lifestyles of Western populations. It is a significant public health concern, being linked with diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Visceral (central) obesity, in particular, is associated with insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinaemia, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, and prothrombotic and proinflammatory states. The term "metabolic syndrome" encompasses these biochemical abnormalities and clinical conditions that may or may not be associated with central obesity. Obesity is a disorder of energy balance and is associated with hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and abnormalities in lipid metabolism. It is one of the most important risk factors in the development of Type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, and certain cancers.

Because of the lower frequency of these diseases in Asian countries, attention has turned toward the Asian diet, which consists mostly of soy and soy-based food products. Adipocytes play a central role in lipid homeostasis and the maintenance of energy balance in vertebrate systems. Excess fat consumption can stimulate enlargement of existing adipocytes and induce

differentiation of dormant preadipocytes into mature adipocytes. Hormones, including estradiol, are regulators of this process called adipogenesis. Soy isoflavones (also called phytoalexins) mimic certain estradiol effects by binding to estrogen receptors (ER) and thus altering adipogenesis. Adipogenesis is regulated by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR- PPARa, PPARp/δ, and PPARy) families, the primary adipogenic transcription factors. Increasing evidence has established that soy isoflavones not only act through estrogen receptors but also exert effects through other pathways such as those regulated by PPARs.

Several researchers have shown that the isoflavone genistein (an ER agonist) can bind directly to and activate both PPARa and PPARy. In the liver, activation of PPARa leads to increased β- oxidation of fatty acids, decreased triglyceride (TG), and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) synthesis. It is generally accepted that the majority of the effects of the soy isoflavone genistein are mediated by changes in the expression of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism.

Genistein exerts antidiabetic and hypolipidimic effects through upregulation of PPAR-regulated genes. However, little is known about the effect of genistein and other phytoalexins or phytoalexin isoflavone metabolites on fatty acid synthesis or other aspects of lipid metabolism.

The liver X receptors (LXRa and LXE-β) are additional members of the nuclear receptor superfamily that were originally identified as orphan receptors. These two receptors play a key role in the regulation of cholesterol metabolism and transport as well as glucose metabolism and inflammation. The liver X receptors (LXRs) are nuclear receptors that play central roles in the transcriptional control of lipid metabolism. LXRs function as nuclear cholesterol sensors that are activated in response to elevated intracellular cholesterol levels in multiple cell types. Once activated, LXRs induce the expression of an array of genes involved in cholesterol absorption, efflux, transport, and excretion. In addition to their function in lipid metabolism, LXRs have also been found to modulate immune and inflammatory responses in macrophages. The modulation of the activity of LXR receptors may be useful in the treatment of a number of pathophysiological states including dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and diabetes.

Synthetic LXR agonists promote cholesterol efflux and inhibit inflammation in vivo and inhibit the development of atherosclerosis in animal models. The ability of LXRs to integrate metabolic and inflammatory signaling makes them particularly attractive targets for intervention in human metabolic disease. There is still considerable debate whether selective activation of LXRoc or LXRp has a differential effect on cholesterol homeostasis or whether they exist as functionally redundant paralogs (X,Y). Studies using LXRoc/ β null mice suggest that the regulation of genes in liver and peripheral tissue involved in cholesterol homeostasis is primarily under the control of LXRoc, and activation of LXRp can partially rescue LXRoc null animals from gross peripheral cholesterol accumulation. However, outside of its role in cholesterol efflux, the broader biological functions of LXRp are emerging, yet remain unclear. Unlike ABCG1 mRNA expression, which seems to be exclusively under the transcriptional control of LXRoc, ABCA1 mRNA in a number of cell types is regulated through signaling mechanisms independent of both LXR isotypes and its role in cholesterol transport. Despite this, measuring ABCA1 mRNA changes is often used as a surrogate marker for in vitro and in vivo LXR activation.

The liver is an important organ in the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins.

Therefore, it is an attractive target organ in the study of obesity. Other tissues can also be analyzed for gene expression including mammary tissue. In primate animal model gene expression of mammary tissue was performed from oral treatments of soy protein isolate (combined with estradiol) with glyceollin-enriched soy protein isolate (combined with estradiol). Little is known about the alteration of genes in animal systems through the oral application of the glyceollins.

Of potential interest among the diet-derived compounds are the isoflavones, including genistein and daidzein that are rich in soy products. The isoflavones are also known as phytoalexins. Phytoalexins constitute a chemically heterogeneous group of low molecular weight antimicrobial compounds that are synthesized de novo and accumulate in plants in response to stress. Soy contains several phytoalexins including the constitutive isoflavones daidzein and genistein that are considered as candidates for diet-derived obesity preventive compounds. Initial interest in these compounds arose from studies that correlate consumption of soy products in Asian countries with a decreased incidence of obesity. Hence, a possible use for these compounds in obesity prevention has been suggested.

Dietary factors have been increasingly implicated in the etiology of a variety of chronic diseases. Much recent interest has focused on the role of specific bioactive components, particularly from dietary plants, in prevention or treatment of these diseases. Isoflavonoids are an important class of bioactive phytochemicals widely consumed as part of soy-based foods. Soy protein is rich in the glycosylated forms of the isoflavones genistein and daidzein, which have structural similarities to endogenous estrogens and exhibit a variety of biological functions relevant to human health. Recent evidence indicates that isoflavone metabolites may also mediate certain health-related effects of soy foods. The best-studied example is equol, which is formed from daidzein by gut bacteria in a subset of human soy consumers and various non-human species. Under the influence of stressors such as trauma or infection, daidzein may also be metabolized within soybeans to a unique class of defensive compounds called glyceollins. Prior studies have shown that glyceollins exhibit distinct effects compared with genistein and daidzein, including modulation of estrogen receptor (ER) signaling. Effects of glyceollins on other biological pathways and systems have not been investigated, however. The inventors evaluated the short- term effects of glyceollin-enriched soy protein on gene expression profiles in mammary adipose tissue. The inventors identified candidate target pathways of glyceollins and evaluated comparative effects of glyceollin-enriched soy protein with a standard soy protein isolate. Diet is a major determinant of metabolic syndrome and related comorbid conditions, and prior findings suggest that glyceollins may competitively bind estrogen receptors (ERs) and elicit selective ER-modulating properties distinct from soy isoflavonoids. The role of specific isoflavonoids and their derivatives in modulating metabolic pathways remains poorly understood. Gene expression DNA microarrays have provided medical researchers with a powerful tool to study the mechanisms of complex diseases such as obesity. This technology permits a more comprehensive understanding of multiple genes involved in the mechanisms behind both physiologic and pathologic conditions. Microarrays facilitate the classification of disease states according to the changes in the mRNA expressed in different cells or tissues. Gene expression profiling is the major application of DNA microarrays in the research of obesity in both animals and humans. Subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, adipocyte and preadipocyte, muscle, liver, pancreas, and cancer cells under normal and disease conditions are used in addressing the profile of gene expression in obesity. Other research has revealed that some phytoalexins, including resveratrol, delay several diseases of ageing including cancer, atherosclerosis, Type II diabetes and even neurodegeneration.

Considering the beneficial health effects of the phytoalexin resveratrol, it is reasonable to propose that other plant phytoalexins have similar beneficial activities. Most current food research based on legumes has focused on plant compounds that are constitutive; however plant food items may also contain thousands of phytoalexin compounds not present in current foods. In the legume family alone there are over two hundred phytoalexins with possible underutilized preventive benefits related to obesity. These compounds have the potential to create novel phytoalexin-enriched foods that would target and enhance obesity prevention. In addition to genistein and daidzein, the glyceollins represent another group of phytoalexins whose biosynthesis is increased in response to stress signals. The glyceollin isomers I— III (FIG. 1) are derived from the precursor daidzein and exhibit core structures similar to that of coumestrol . The glyceollins (Ι-ΙΠ) can be derived from exposure of soybean to the fungus Aspergillus sojae, a nontoxin-producing Aspergillus strain commonly used in the fermentation of soybeans to produce soy sauce and miso. Compared with genistein and daidzein, purified glyceollins show greater ability to modulate the activity of certain genes, including LXR receptors. These findings suggest that soy protein enriched with glyceollins may have distinct gene-modulating properties compared with standard soy protein.

There is a need to develop new treatments for obesity from both synthetic and natural sources. Thus, in view of the glyceollins' modulatory effects on pathways involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, including PPAR and adipocytokine signaling, lipoprotein lipase, triglyceride metabolism, and LXRs in vitro, and further in view of their lack of toxic activity, the efficacy of glyceollins as a novel obesity therapy in vivo was studied.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to glyceollins isolated from elicited soy which have been discovered to have modulatory effects on pathways involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, including PPAR and adipocytokine signaling, lipoprotein lipase, and triglyceride metabolism, and on LXRs. These glyceollins thus would be useful in the prevention and treatment of obesity,and cardiovascular diseases.

In accordance with this discovery, it is an object of the invention to provide isolated glyceollins (Glyceollin I, II, and III) from elicited soy. It is a further object of the invention to provide a composition containing glyceoUin for preventing or minimizing obesity.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for lowering serum total cholesterol, specifically non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for preventing or minimizing diabetes.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for preventing or minimizing dyslipidemia.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for preventing or minimizing atherosclerosis.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for preventing and treating cardiac and vascular diseases linked to obesity and hyperlipidemia.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for preventing, minimizing, or ameliorating diabetes.

Also part of this invention is a kit, comprising a glyceollin-containing composition for preventing or minimizing obesity, for lowering serum total cholesterol, specifically non-high- density lipoprotein cholesterol, or for preventing, minimizing, or ameliorating diabetes.

Also part of this invention is a kit, comprising a glyceollin-containing composition for preventing or minimizing obesity, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, or diabetes.

Further information on uses for glyceollins is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 11/118,431, published as US 2006/0246162, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Provided is a method of modulating the expression of genes linked to adipocytokine signaling, carbohydrate metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, PPAR signaling, insulin signaling, lipid metabolism, extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction, or combinations thereof, in an animal, comprising administering to said animal a composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin. The at least one isolated glyceollin may be isolated from elicited soy, and may be glyceollin I, glyceollin II, glyceollin III, or combinations thereof. The at least one isolated glyceollin may be provided in an amount of from about 100 nM to about 50 μΜ. The at least one isolated glyceollin may be provided in an amount of from about 1 mg/kg/ animal to about 100 mg/kg/ animal. The genes may be upregulated, relative to an animal that has not been administered said composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin, and may be selected from the group consisting of: ADIPOQ; DGAT2; GPD1; GYS1 ; LEP; LPIN1 ; LPL; PLIN; PPARG; and combinations thereof. The genes may be upregulated, relative to an animal that has not been administered said composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin, and may be selected from the group consisting of: ACACB; ACAT 1 ; ACOX1 ; AGPAT 2; AHSG; AKT1 ; AKT2; CAP1 ; CD36; CEBPB; CRK; DBI;

EIF2B1 ; EIF4EBP1 ; FBP1 ; FOS; GPD1 ; GPAM; HADH; HRAS1 ; ITGA7; LPL; MAP2K1 ; ORMl ; PLIN; PRKAR2B; PTGDS; PTPNl ; PTPNl l ; SORBSl ; SREBFl ; VEGFA; and combinations thereof. The genes may be downregulated, relative to an animal that has not been administered said composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin, and may be selected from the group consisting of: AEBPl ; ARAF; CBL; CEBPA; CEBPD; CSN2; DOK2; DOK3; EIF4E; FRS3; G6PC; GCG; GCK; GPD2; GRB10; GRB2; GSK3B; IGF2; INS1 ; ITGA2; ITGA8; LDLR; NCK2; NOS2; NPY; OLR 1 ; PHIP; PIK3CA; PIK3R2; PPP1 CA; PRKCI; PTPRF; RETN; SDC1 ; SHC3; SLC27A4; and combinations thereof.

Provided is a method of treating hyperlipidemia, obesity, excessive cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, diabetes, or combinations thereof, in an animal in need thereof, comprising administering a composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin to said animal. The at least one isolated glyceollin may be isolated from elicited soy, and may be glyceollin I, glyceollin II, glyceollin III, or combinations thereof. The at least one isolated glyceollin may be provided in an amount of from about 100 nM to about 50 μΜ. The at least one isolated glyceollin may be provided in an amount of from about 1 mg/kg/ animal to about 100 mg/kg/ animal. The method may further comprise increasing the expression in said animal of genes selected from the group consisting of: ADIPOQ; DGAT2; GPD1 ; GYS1 ; LEP;

LPIN1 ; LPL; PLIN; PPARG; and combinations thereof, relative to an animal that has not been administered said composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin. The method may further comprise lowering total cholesterol (TC), lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, raising triglycerides (TG), or combinations thereof in said animal, relative to an animal that has not been administered said composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin. The method may further comprise increasing the expression in said animal of genes selected from the group consisting of:

ACACB; ACAT 1 ; ACOX1 ; AGPAT 2; AHSG; AKT1 ; AKT2; CAP1 ; CD36; CEBPB; CRK; DBI; EIF2B1 ; EIF4EBP1 ; FBP1 ; FOS; GPD1 ; GPAM; HADH; HRASl ; ITGA7; LPL;

MAP2K1 ; ORMl ; PLIN; PRKAR2B; PTGDS; PTPNl ; PTPNl l ; SORBSl ; SREBFl ; VEGFA; and combinations thereof, relative to an animal that has not been administered said composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin. The method may further comprise decreasing the expression in said animal of genes selected from the group consisting of: AEBPl ; ARAF; CBL; CEBPA; CEBPD; CSN2; DOK2; DOK3; EIF4E; FRS3; G6PC; GCG; GCK; GPD2; GRB10; GRB2; GSK3B; IGF2; INS1; ITGA2; ITGA8; LDLR; NCK2; NOS2; NPY; PHIP; PIK3CA; PIK3R2; PPPICA; PTPRF; RETN; SDCl; SHC3; SLC27A4; and combinations thereof, relative to an animal that has not been administered said composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin.

A method of stimulating glucose uptake in an animal in need thereof is provided, comprising administering a composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin to said animal. The at least one isolated glyceollin may be isolated from elicited soy, and may be glyceollin I, glyceollin II, glyceollin III, or combinations thereof. The at least one isolated glyceollin may be provided in an amount of from about 100 nM to about 50 μΜ. The at least one isolated glyceollin may be provided in an amount of from about 1 mg/kg/ animal to about 100 mg/kg/ animal. The composition may further comprise insulin, or a further composition comprising insulin may also be administered to said animal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present disclosure, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements.

FIG. 1 shows the structures of the soy isoflavone phytoalexins genistein, daidzein, glyceollin I, glyceollin II, and glyceollin III.

FIG. 2 demonstrates the effect of glyceollins on upregulation of ABCG1, a gene which is involved in cholesterol efflux by Liver X Receptor in LNCaP Cells in vitro; ABCG1 is a LXR- responsive gene that functions as a cholesterol efflux pump. As shown in FIG. 2, results from LNCaP cell suggest a role for the glyceollins on LXR. Glyceollin treatment at 5μΜ for 48h led to an 8.1 fold up-regulation of ABCG1 (* = p < 0.01).

FIG. 3 is a Venn diagram showing the total number of genes (with GenBank identifiers) with FC > 1.5, ANOVA P < 0.05, quality > 2, and t-test P < 0.05 compared to casein / lactalbumin.

FIG. 4: FIG. 4A shows a hierarchical clustering dendrogram, and FIG. 4B shows a principal component analysis for gene probes with FC > 1.5 and ANOVA P < 0.05 (n = 252). Euclidean distance and average linkage were used for dendrogram and clustering. FIG. 5 shows that the distinction in profiles for glyceollin from standard soy protein was also evident qualitatively from heatmaps for genes altered at FC > 1.5.

FIG. 6 shows the pathway analyses that were used to sort altered genes by canonical and functional categories. The most overrepresented canonical pathways in IPA for altered genes in the glyceollin group all related to lipid, carbohydrate, and/ or energy metabolism (significantly altered at FC > 1.5 by GLY and SOY diets by Ingenuity pathway analysis). These pathways included glycerophospholipid and glycerolipid metabolism, cytochrome p450 metabolism, and AMPK signaling (P < 0.01 for all).

FIG. 7 shows a challenge map for the plates used with the insulin stimulation experiments of EXAMPLE 11.

FIG. 8 shows a challenge map for the plates used with the glyceollin incubation experiments of EXAMPLE 12.

FIG. 9 is a dose-response curve showing insulin-mediated glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

FIG. 10 is a dose-response curve showing insulin-mediated glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 adipocytes starved of adipocyte maintenance medium for 24 hours prior to the experiment.

FIG. 11 is a dose-response curve, generated using a rapid-pipetting technique, showing insulin- mediated glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

FIG. 12 shows the effects of glyceollin, insulin, or glyceollin plus insulin on glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes pre-incubated for 24 hours with either KRH or with glyceollin. FIG. 13 shows the effects, using a rapid-pipetting technique, of glyceollin, insulin, or glyceollin plus insulin on glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes pre-incubated for 24 hours with either KRH or with glyceollin. Columns that differ from each other by p < 0.05 have differing superscript letters.

FIG. 14 shows the effects, using a rapid-pipetting technique, of glycinol, insulin, or glycinol plus insulin on glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes pre-incubated for 24 hours with either KRH or with glycinol. The asterisk indicates significant difference from all other groups.

FIG. 15 shows the effects of a 30 minute exposure to insulin on glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes pre-incubated with glyceollin.

FIG. 16 shows the effects of a 30 minute exposure to glyceollin, insulin, or glycinol on glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes pre-incubated with KRH. Columns are as follows:

1) DMSO control; 2) KRH control; 3) Glyceollin Mix (5 μΜ); 4) Glyceollin I (5 μΜ); 5) GlyceolUn II (5 μΜ); 6) GlyceolUn III (5 μΜ); 7) Glycinol (1 μΜ); 8) Glycinol (0.1 μΜ).

Columns that differ from each other by p < 0.05 have differing superscript letters.

FIG. 17 shows the effects of a 30 minute exposure to either glyceollin I or glyceolUn III, with or without insuUn, on glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes pre-incubated with KRH. Columns are as follows: 1) DMSO control; 2) 0.3 nM insulin; 3) GlyceolUn I (5 μΜ); 4) 0.3 nM insuUn + Glyceollin I (1 μΜ); 5) 0.3 nM insulin + GlyceolUn I (5 μΜ); 6) Glyceollin III (5 μΜ); 7) GlyceoUin I (1 μΜ); 8) 0.3 nM insuUn + GlyceolUn III (5 μΜ). Columns that differ from each other by p < 0.05 have differing superscript letters.

FIG. 18 is a dose-response curve, generated using a rapid-pipetting technique, showing insuUn- mediated glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

FIG. 19 shows the effects of a 30 minute exposure to insulin on glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes pre-incubated for 24 hours with either KRH or with glyceoUin.

FIG. 20 shows the effects of a 30 minute exposure to insulin on glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes pre-incubated for 3 hours with either KRH or with glyceolUn.

Columns that differ from each other by p < 0.05 have differing superscript letters.

FIG. 21 shows insulin-mediated glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes after 45 minutes of exposure to either glyceollin (·) or KRH buffer (o). Means are significantly different at all insuUn concentrations (p < 0.05).

FIG. 22 shows glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes preincubated for 24 hours with KRH, then incubated 45 minutes with different doses of glyceolUn, and then 30 minutes with KRH. Columns that differ from each other by p < 0.05 have differing superscript letters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the subject disclosure is further described, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments of the disclosure described below, as variations of the particular embodiments may be made and still faU within the scope of the appended claims. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, and is not intended to be Umiting. Instead, the scope of the present disclosure wiU be estabUshed by the appended claims.

Other than in the operating examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the instant specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the instant disclosure are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical values, however, inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

It should also be understood that any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein. For example, a range of 1" to 10" is intended to include all sub- ranges between and including the recited minimum value of 1 and the recited maximum value of 10, that is, having a minimum value equal to or greater than 1 and a maximum value of equal to or less than 10.

In this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

As used herein, the term "minimize" or "reduce", or a variant thereof, includes a complete or partial inhibition of a specified biological effect (which is apparent from the context in which the term minimize is used). The term "glyceollin" may mean both a single glyceollin and plural glyceollins when the glyceollin is defined as at least one of a selected group of glyceollins.

This disclosure describes, inter alia, the increased biosynthesis of the isoflavonoid phytoalexin compounds, Glyceollins I, II and III, in soy plants grown under stressed conditions (elicited soy) and their marked effects on LXRoc and/ or LXRp function, pathways involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, including PPAR and adipocytokine signaling, lipoprotein lipase, and triglyceride metabolism. To fully understand the role of glyceollins' role in liver function, the well-established model of LNCaP cancer cells in an in vitro model was used to examine the effects of glyceollins on selective gene expression. In this model, using the LNCaP cancer cells, the in vitro activity of the glyceollins on LXRoc or LXR-β has been established.

The glyceollin compounds used in the compositions and methods of the present invention are naturally occurring substances which may be found in plants such as soybeans that are stressed or that have been treated with elicitors. The glyceollin compounds may be isolated from the plant sources in which they naturally occur after treatment with an elicitor, or may be synthetically prepared by processes known in the art.

It is preferred to extract the glyceollins useful in the compositions and methods of the present invention from the plant materials in which they naturally occur. A preferred method of isolating the glyceollin compounds is to extract the plant materials with an alcohol, preferably methanol or ethanol, or an aqueous methanolic solution, to remove the glyceollins from the plant material. It is preferred to comminute the plant material before extracting the glyceollin compounds to maximize recovery of glyceollin compounds from the plant material. The glyceollin compounds are isolated from the extract by conventional separation procedures, such as high performance liquid chromatography, HPLC.

In a preferred embodiment, the glyceollin compounds are isolated from a soy material. Soy materials from which the glyceollin compounds can be isolated include elicitor-treated: soy seeds, soybeans, dehulled soybeans, soy cotyldeons, soy leaf tissue, soy roots, and soy hypocotyls. In one embodiment, the glyceollins are extracted from soy seeds, with a low molecular weight organic extractant, preferably an alcohol, ethyl acetate, acetone, or ether, and most preferably aqueous ethyl alcohol or methyl alcohol.

The present disclosure demonstrates that specific glyceollins, isolated from elicited soy, displayed modulatory effect on pathways involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, including PPAR and adipocytokine signaling, lipoprotein lipase, and triglyceride metabolism in vivo, as well as on LXRoc or LXRp in vitro. The modulatory effects of the glyceollins (glyceollin I, glyceollin II, glyceollin II, or combinations thereof) can be observed at between about 0.5 and about 10 μΜ, about 0.5 and about 5.0 μΜ, about 0.5 and about 1.0 μΜ, about 1.0 and about 10 μΜ, about 1.0 and about 5 μΜ, about 5.0 and about 10 μΜ, and preferably about 5.0 μΜ. The modulatory effects of the glyceollins on LNCaP cells were similar to that observed for genistein (FIG. 1). The glyceollins (glyceollin I, glyceollin II, glyceollin II, or combinations thereof) can be provided to, administered to, or consumed by an animal in an amount of greater than zero mg/kg to about 100 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 90 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 80 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 75 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 70 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 60 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 40 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 30 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 25 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 20 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 15 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 10 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 5 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 2.5 mg/kg, about 0.1 mg/kg to about 1 mg/kg, about 1 mg/kg to about 100 mg/kg, about 2.5 mg/kg to about 90 mg/kg, about 5 mg/kg to about 80 mg/kg, about 7.5 mg/kg to about 75 mg/kg, about 10 mg/kg to about 60 mg/kg, about 20 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg, about 25 mg/kg to about 40 mg/kg, about 25 mg/kg to about 35 mg/kg, and preferably about 30 mg/kg per animal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: LIVER X RECEPTORS

Chemicals

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and genistein, 17p-estradiol were from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO). Cell culture media and reagents were purchased from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA).

Soybean treatment and harvesting

Aspergillus sojae (SRRC 1125) cultures were grown at 25°C in the dark on potato dextrose agar. After 5 days, inoculum was prepared by harvesting conidia (3.4 x 10⁷/ml) in 15 ml sterile, distilled H₂0. Seeds from commercial soybean variety Asgrow 5902 were surface-sterilized for 3 min in 70% ethanol followed by a quick deionized-H₂0 rinse and two 2 min rinses in deionized-H₂0. Seeds were presoaked in sterile deionized-H₂0 for 4-5 hr, and then chopped for 2 min in a Cuisinart food processor. Aspergillus sojae spore suspension (300 ml) was applied to the cut surface of seeds on each tray. All trays were stored at 25° C in the dark for three days, rinsed with water to remove spores, and oven dried at 40° C for 24 hrs. Seeds were ground using a Waring blender before extraction.

Isolation of glyceollins (Ί-ΙΙΙ)

The glyceollins I, II, and III were extracted from the 300g ground seeds with 1 L methanol. The glyceollins were isolated using preparative scale HPLC using two Waters 25 mm 10 mm particle size mBondapak CI 8 radial compression column segments combined using an extension tube. HPLC was performed on a Waters 600E System Controller combined with a Waters UV-VIS 996 detector. Elution was carried out at a flow rate of 8.0 ml/ min with the following solvent system: A = acetonitrile, B = water; 5% A for 10 min, then 5% A to 90% A in 60 min followed by holding at 90% A for 20 min. The injection volume was 20 mL. The fraction containing the glyceollins was concentrated under vacuum and freeze-dried. The glyceollins were confirmed by UV-VIS spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry, and NMR. The solvents acetonitrile (HPLC grade) and methanol were purchased from Aldrich Chemical Company. Water was obtained using a Millipore system and used during sample preparation procedures and HPLC analyses. A mixture of glyceollins I (68%), II (21%), and III (11%) were isolated (see FIG. 1) and used in treatments. An average MW of 338 was use to calculate the concentration of glyceollins used in all cell culture experiments.

Cells and cell culture

LNCaP cells were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, VA) and maintained in Media A [RPMI 1640 medium with phenol red (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA), 2 mM L-glutamine (Sigma), 100 U/mL penicillin and 100 μg/mL streptomycin (BioSource

International, Camarillo, CA) with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA)] . Cells were incubated in the presence of 5% C0₂ in air at 37°C.

Gene SuperArrays with MCF-7 Cells In vitro.

MCF-7 cells were seeded into 75 cm2 flasks in DMEM media supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum. On the following day media was replaced with phenol-red free DMEM supplemented with 5% charcoal stripped serum for 2 days. Cells were treated with DMSO (vehicle), 1 nM 17p-estradiol, 10 μΜ glyceollin mixture and 100 nM tamoxifen. Total RNA was extracted. Each array profiles the expression of a panel of 96 genes. For each array, 4 μg RNA was reverse transcribed into cDNA in the presence of gene-specific oligonucleotide primers as described in the manufacturer's protocol. cDNA template was mixed with the appropriate ready-to-use PCR master mix, equal volumes were aliquoted to each well of the same plate, and then the real-time PCR cycling program was run. Quantitative RT-PCR and Estrogen Receptor Signaling Superarray, Gaithersburg, MD, USA). Relative gene expressions were calculated by using the 2—^AACt method, in which Ct indicates the fractional cycle number where the fluorescent signal reaches detection threshold. The 'delta-delta' method (which is described by Pfaffl et al.,) uses the normalized ACt value of each sample, calculated using a total of five endogenous control genes (18S rRNA, HPRTl, RPL13A, GAPDH, and ACTB). Fold change values are then presented as average fold change = 2— ^^veiae^{e AACt}^ f_or genes in treated relative to control samples. Clinical variables were characterized using descriptive statistics, and the statistical significance of differences in gene expression between groups was calculated using the student's t-test. Primate Study and Diets

The inventors used 30 adult female surgically menopausal cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fasdmlans) with an average age of 17.8 ± 0.5 years. All animals had been ovariectomized for 4 yr and housed since that time in stable social groups of three to four animals each. These animals were previously enrolled in a randomized Latin-square crossover study evaluating soy isoflavone effects when given with either trace or low-dose oral estradiol. In this previous study, each social group of animals received the same experimental treatments but in a different sequence. No significant carryover effects were found for any breast endpoints across the 4-wk washout periods between treatment phases. The estradiol doses used in the previous study (equivalent to 0.09 or 0.5 mg/day in women) were less than those typically prescribed to postmenopausal women for hormone therapy (~1.0 mg/ day), and the isoflavone doses (equivalent to 0, 60, 120, or 240 mg/day in women) were within the range of human dietary or supplement exposure. There is no evidence that this level of estrogen or isoflavone exposure alters the subsequent hormonal response of the adult mammary gland. For the current study, the monkeys all received a control casein/lactalbumin-based diet for 6 wk before the start of the experiment. Animals were then randomized by social group to receive one of three diets containing the following: 1) estradiol (E2, 1 mg/1,800 kcal) + casein/lactalbumin [control (Con), n = 9]; 2) E2 + soy protein isolate (SPI) containing 193.6 mg/1,800 kcal isoflavonoids (n = 11); and 3) E2 + glyceollin-enriched soy protein (GLY) containing 188.5 mg/1,800 kcal isoflavonoids and 134.1 mg/ 1,800 kcal glyceollins (n = 10). The control diet contained a trace amount of soy protein delivering 6.7 mg/ 1,800 kcal isoflavonoids. All isoflavonoid doses are expressed in aglycone equivalents. Diets were isocaloric and similar in macronutrients, cholesterol, calcium, and phosphorus. The glyceollin-enriched protein was produced by enzymatic treatment of scarred soybeans (Glycine max) to induce conversion of the parent isoflavone daidzein to glyceollins. The beans were then ground, defatted, and incorporated into a fiber concentrate. The GLY supplement contained 959.5 μg of unconjugated glyceollins per gram of product (76.8% glyceollin I, 9.9% glyceollin II, and 13.6% glyceollin III), as determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet (UV) monitoring (visible spectrophotometry).

Glyceollin HPLC analyses were performed on a Waters 600E System Controller combined with a UV-VIS 996 detector. Glyceollins were extracted and homogenized in 0.5 ml 80% EtOH, heated at 50°C for 1 h, cooled, centrifuged at 14,000g for 10 min, and filtered. An aliquot (20 μΐ) of supernatant was directly analyzed by HPLC. Glyceollins were monitored at a wavelength of 285 nm, and separations were carried out using a Vydac Multiring CI 8 (4.6 x 250 mm; 5 μηι) reverse-phase column. Elution was carried out at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/ min using a standard solvent system. All HPLC analyses were run in triplicate. Relative isoflavonoid content was also measured per 75 units as 61.5% genistein, 34.6% daidzein, and 3.8% glyceitein for the soy protein isolate and 52.6% genistein, 43.0% daidzein, and 4.4% glyceitein for the glyceollin- enriched protein. To balance the diets, a fiber concentrate (FIBRIM 2000^®) was added to the control and SPI diets. This concentrate contained a small amount of soy protein (11.4% by weight) providing 0.17 mg isoflavonoids per gram of product (as measured by HPLC). The soy protein isolate and fiber concentrate were generously provided by Soke, a division of Dupont (St. Louis, MO). The glyceollin-enriched protein was provided through collaborative efforts of Solae; the Southern Regional Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture; and the Tulane University School of Medicine. Estradiol tablets were obtained from Mylan

Pharmaceuticals (Morgan ton, WV). Animals were fed approximately 120 kcal/kg body weight (BW) once daily. Daily doses of estradiol, isoflavonoids, and glyceollins were scaled to 1,800 kcal of diet (the estimated daily intake for a U.S. woman) to account for differences in metabolic rates between the monkeys and human subjects. Monkeys were thus given 66.7 g of E2/kg BW (all groups); 0.44 mg (Con), 12.91 mg (SPI), or 12.57 mg (GLY) of isoflavonoids/kg BW; and 8.94 mg glyceollins/kg BW (GLY) each day. Of note, the initial SPI and GLY diet formulations lacked adequate palatability, requiring all the animals to be placed on the control group diet (with E2) for 1 wk 14 days into the experiment. All diets were reformulated during this time with sweetened applesauce and fed henceforth for 3 weeks without compliance problems. All procedures involving these animals were conducted in compliance with state and federal laws, standards of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and guidelines established by the Wake Forest University Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC). The facilities and laboratory animal program of Wake Forest University are fully accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care.

Primate Breast Biopsies

At the beginning and end of the dietary treatment period, the animals were anesthetized with ketamine and buprenorphine for breast biopsy, blood collection, uterine ultrasound, vaginal cytology, and body weight measurement. For the breast biopsy, a 1.5-cm incision was made in a preselected breast quadrant, and a small (~0.4 g) sample of mammary gland was removed. The incision was sutured, and the animals were monitored and given analgesia during recovery following ACUC-approved clinical procedures. The biopsy site was tattooed to prevent later resampling at the same site. Half of the biopsy sample was frozen; the other half was fixed at 4°C in 4% paraformaldehyde for 24 h and then processed for histology using standard procedures.

EXAMPLE 1

Glyceollins upregulate ABCGl via Liver X Receptor in LNCaP Cells in vitro

As shown in FIG. 1 , results from LNCaP cell suggest a role for the glyceollins on LXR.

GlyceoUin treatment at 5μΜ for 48h led to an 8.1 fold up-regulation of ABCGl. A significant up-regulation for ABCA1 was also observed (data not shown). Genistein treatment led to a 3 fold up-regulation, and daidzein and genistein led to a 2 fold up-regulation.

EXAMPLE 2

GlyceoUin treatments lead to up regulation of LXR responsive genes ABCGl and ABCA1

The two LXR responsive genes ABCGl and ABCA1 work in tandem as a cholesterol efflux pump. These molecular effects provide potential mechanisms by which soy glyceoUins may provide protection against obesity and obesity related syndrome such as hypercholesterolemia and inflammation. LXRoc and LXRp isotypes have been studied for their critical role in Umiting accumulation of free cholesterol in peripheral tissue and macrophages through regulation of reverse cholesterol transporters ATP-binding cassette, subfamily A, member 1 (ABCA1) and subfamily member Gl (ABCGl; 4-5). LXRoc is primarUy expressed in Uver, adipose, and enterocytes where LXR-β is expressed ubiquitously.

EXAMPLE 3

GlyceoUins alter gene expression in MCF7 ceUs in vitro

TABLE 1 shows the results of a SuperArray analysis of genes altered by estradiol, a glyceolUn mixture, and tamoxifen treatment in MCF-7 ceUs. Numbers in bold indicate fold changes in gene expression greater than 1.5. Upon examination of the differential effects of glyceoUin and tamoxifen treatment on both SDF-1 and PgR gene expression, we sought to further investigate the differences between the two compounds using a more extensive panel of genes which are commonly altered in breast cancer and estrogen signaling by performing a superarray analyses. Based on the above real time RT-PCR data we chose to treat the MCF-7 ceUs for four hours with DMSO (vehicle), 1 nM E2, 100 nM tamoxifen or 10 μΜ glyceoUin. Total RNA was extracted, quantitated and a real-time PCR array was performed. The inventors identified several genes up-regulated by GlyceolUn: SREBF1, SREBF2, ACOX1, PPARA, FASN,

AGPAT7, AGPAT6, SCD5, CPT2, ABCGl, AC02, ECHl, ECHDCl, ECHDC2, ECHDC3. TABLE 1

Estrogen GLY TAM Gene Description

Homo sapiens 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 7 (lysophosphatidic acid768437591 1.608816742 1.22010051 AGPAT7

acyltransferase, eta) (AGPAT7), mRNA [NM_153613]

Homo sapiens 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 5 (lysophosphatidic acid483494934 1.484523571 1 .178539408 AGPAT5

acyltransferase, epsilon) (AGPAT5), mRNA [NM_018361]

Homo sapiens stearoyl-CoA desaturase 5108032348 1.599920257 1.370782805 SCD5 (SCD5), transcript variant 1 , mRNA

[NM_001037582]

Homo sapiens stearoyl-CoA desaturase 5,.00486382 1.071773463 1.00486382 SCD5 mRNA (cDNA clone IMAGE:3607979), complete cds. [BC004936]

Homo sapiens stearoyl-CoA desaturase 5021720083 0.965936329 1.054822317 SCD5 (SCD5), transcript variant 2, mRNA

[NM_024906]

Homo sapiens acetyl-Coenzyme A073260286 1.282536603 1 .121943481 ACACA carboxylase alpha (ACACA), transcript variant 2, mRNA [NM_198839]

Homo sapiens carnitine

967947027 1.493813457 1.32317144 CPT1 C palmitoyltransferase 1 C (CPT1 C), mRNA

[NM_152359]

Homo sapiens carnitine

palmitoyltransferase II (CPT2), nuclear.25962998 2.084931522 2.106722072 CPT2

gene encoding mitochondrial protein, mRNA [NM_000098]

Homo sapiens carnitine

palmitoyltransferase 1 B (muscle) (CPT1 B),702222438 1.155085785 0.916368645 CPT1 B nuclear gene encoding mitochondrial protein, transcript variant 3, mRNA

[NM_152246]

Homo sapiens acyl-CoA synthetase021720083 1.301341855 1.071030823 ACSM3 medium-chain family member 3 (ACSM3), transcript variant 2, mRNA [NM_202000]

Homo sapiens acyl-CoA synthetase short- chain family member 1 (ACSS1 ), nuclear652900636 2.243886961 1.958840595 ACSS1

gene encoding mitochondrial protein, mRNA [NM_032501]

Homo sapiens acyl-CoA synthetase short-955282936 1.303147149 1.162314108 ACSS2 chain family member 2 (ACSS2), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_018677]

Homo sapiens interleukin 1 receptor961927455 1.197478705 1.217566019 IL1 RN antagonist (IL1 RN), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_173842]

Homo sapiens interleukin 1 receptor.00486382 1.071773463 1.051 172909 IL1 RN antagonist, mRNA (cDNA clone

IMAGE:5270437), partial cds. [BC068441 ] Estrogen GLY TAM Gene Description

Homo sapiens ATP-binding cassette, sub¬01 1 152081 1.038139271 1.082975046 ABCA1 family A (ABC1 ), member 1 (ABCA1 ), mRNA [NM_005502]

Homo sapiens cDNA FLJ 14266 fis, clone PLACE1002437, highly similar to ATP-965267025 1.081474763 1.057750964 ABCA1

BINDING CASSETTE TRANSPORTER 1 . [AK024328]

Homo sapiens ATP-binding cassette, sub¬.02313747 1.042465761 1.043188594 ABCA1 family A (ABC1 ), member 1 (ABCA1 ), mRNA [NM_005502]

Homo sapiens ATP-binding cassette, sub¬987600861 1.068065408 1.019597683 ABCA10 family A (ABC 1 ), member 10 (ABCA10), mRNA [NM_080282]

Homo sapiens ATP-binding cassette, sub¬070288698 1.028826708 1.0132569 ABCA13 family A (ABC 1 ), member 13 (ABCA13), mRNA [NM_152701]

Homo sapiens ATP-binding cassette, sub¬922521857 1.655193632 1.333298677 ABCA3 family A (ABC1 ), member 3 (ABCA3), mRNA [NM_001089]

Homo sapiens ATP-binding cassette, sub¬.76101669 0.965936329 0.874784765 ABCA5 family A (ABC1 ), member 5 (ABCA5), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_018672]

Homo sapiens ATP-binding cassette, sub¬988970916 1.082224645 1.042465761 ABCA6 family A (ABC1 ), member 6 (ABCA6), mRNA [NM_080284]

Homo sapiens ATP-binding cassette, sub¬880869374 1.297738767 1.151089491 ABCA7 family A (ABC1 ), member 7 (ABCA7), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_0191 12]

Homo sapiens ATP-binding cassette, sub¬071030823 1.033830736 1.016774673 ABCA8 family A (ABC1 ), member 8 (ABCA8), mRNA [NM_007168]

Homo sapiens ATP-binding cassette, sub¬016070143 1.016774673 1.076986376 ABCA9 family A (ABC1 ), member 9 (ABCA9), mRNA [NM_080283]

Homo sapiens ATP-binding cassette, sub¬024556823 1.318593614 1.137605228 ABCA1 1 family A (ABC1 ), member 1 1 (pseudogene)

(ABCA1 1 ) on chromosome 4 [NR_002451]

Homo sapiens ATP-binding cassette, sub¬.76630998 1.652900636 1.374588696 ABCA12 family A (ABC 1 ), member 12 (ABCA12), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_173076]

Homo sapiens ATP-binding cassette, sub¬620283649 2.051956291 1.22010051 ABCG1 family G (WHITE), member 1 (ABCG1 ), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_207630]

Homo sapiens acyl-CoA synthetase long-944747041 1.413233644 1.616641738 ACSL1 chain family member 1 (ACSL1 ), mRNA

[NM_001995] Estrogen GLY TAM Gene Description

Homo sapiens acyl-CoA synthetase short-.91319825 1.436940177 1.295940965 ACSS2 chain family member 2 (ACSS2), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_018677]

Homo sapiens acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase178539408 1.469168633 1 .387030969 AACS

(AACS), mRNA [NM_023928]

Homo sapiens acyl-CoA synthetase short- chain family member 1 (ACSS1 ), nuclear719512972 1.695839929 1.756860936 ACSS1

gene encoding mitochondrial protein, mRNA [NM_032501]

Homo sapiens insulin receptor substrate 2408344227 1.529436278 1.43893358 IRS2

(IRS2), mRNA [NM_003749]

Homo sapiens aconitase 1 , soluble942784536 1.271031689 1.266634254 AC01

(AC01 ), mRNA [NM_002197]

Homo sapiens aconitase 2, mitochondrial163120042 1.832737289 1.618884433 AC02 (AC02), nuclear gene encoding

mitochondrial protein, mRNA [NM_001098]

Homo sapiens 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate043188594 1.407368375 1 .223488041 AGPAT3 O-acyltransferase 3 (AGPAT3), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_020132]

Homo sapiens 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate062159186 1.4054187 1.271913007 AGPAT3 O-acyltransferase 3 (AGPAT3), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_020132]

Homo sapiens enoyl Coenzyme A

230291345 2.225300241 2.139094176 ECH1 hydratase 1 , peroxisomal (ECH1 ), mRNA

[NM_001398]

Homo sapiens enoyl Coenzyme A

154285418 1.419123356 1.495885758 ECHDC1 hydratase domain containing 1 (ECHDC1 ), mRNA [NM_018479]

Homo sapiens enoyl Coenzyme A

209994089 2.0265138 1.70408819 ECHDC2 hydratase domain containing 2 (ECHDC2), mRNA [NM_018281]

Homo sapiens enoyl Coenzyme A

261377409 2.009727641 1.526259209 ECHDC3 hydratase domain containing 3 (ECHDC3), mRNA [NM_024693]

Homo sapiens enoyl Coenzyme A hydratase, short chain, 1 , mitochondrial154285418 1.496922987 1.500038989 ECHS1

(ECHS1 ), nuclear gene encoding mitochondrial protein, mRNA [NM_004092]

Homo sapiens insulin-degrading enzyme.10343374 1.346300069 1 .337927555 IDE

(IDE), mRNA [NM_004969]

Homo sapiens insulin-like growth factor 2981459064 1.599920257 1.337927555 IGF2R

receptor (IGF2R), mRNA [NM_000876]

Homo sapiens leptin receptor overlapping938221 197 1.53261996 1.546492675 LEPROT

transcript (LEPROT), mRNA [NM_017526] Estrogen GLY TAM Gene Description

Homo sapiens uncoupling protein 2 (mitochondrial, proton carrier) (UCP2),082224645 1.979313313 1.52414483 UCP2

nuclear gene encoding mitochondrial protein, mRNA [NM_003355]

Homo sapiens insulin-like growth factor784040454 1.374588696 1 .221793102 IGFBP5 binding protein 5 (IGFBP5), mRNA

[NM_000599]

Homo sapiens leptin receptor overlapping798851916 1.160703914 1.25092908 LEPROT

transcript (LEPROT), mRNA [NM_017526]

Homo sapiens insulin-like growth factor 1284315809 1.335148303 1.092020546 IGF1 R

receptor (IGF1 R), mRNA [NM_000875]

Homo sapiens insulin-like growth factor 1263127262 1.387992719 1.082224645 IGF1 R

receptor (IGF1 R), mRNA [NM_000875]

Homo sapiens insulin-like growth factor 1221793102 1.395710764 1.100378609 IGF1 R

receptor (IGF1 R), mRNA [NM_000875]

Homo sapiens insulin-like growth factor 1.23370717 1.381274448 1.0453601 IGF1 R

receptor (IGF1 R), mRNA [NM_000875]

Homo sapiens insulin-like growth factor 1.25092908 1.446934886 1.01 1 152081 IGF1 R

receptor (IGF1 R), mRNA [NM_000875]

Homo sapiens insulin-like growth factor988925005 2.491474831 1.22603486 IGFBP4 binding protein 4 (IGFBP4), mRNA

[NM_001552]

Homo sapiens 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate .0181852 1.250062303 1.092777739 AGPAT3 O-acyltransferase 3 (AGPAT3), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_020132]

Homo sapiens 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 6 (lysophosphatidic acid893427262 2.199232299 1 .695839929 AGPAT6

acyltransferase, zeta) (AGPAT6), mRNA [NM_178819]

Homo sapiens 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 6 (lysophosphatidic acid842928372 2.340797283 1 .71 1 190051 AGPAT6

acyltransferase, zeta) (AGPAT6), mRNA [NM_178819]

Homo sapiens, clone IMAGE:38581 14,962594443 1.262252032 1.204137381 ECH1

mRNA. [BC014786]

Homo sapiens enoyl Coenzyme A

399585866 2.199232299 1.496922987 ECHDC3 hydratase domain containing 3 (ECHDC3), mRNA [NM_024693]

Homo sapiens G patch domain containing041743429 1.35754498 1.29145735 GPATCH 1

1 (GPATCH1 ), mRNA [NM_018025]

Homo sapiens insulin-like growth factor 2244874235 1.104198847 1.065108203 IGF2 (somatomedin A) (IGF2), transcript variant

2, mRNA [NM_001007139]

Homo sapiens acetyl-Coenzyme A944747041 1.174461971 1 .101 141598 ACACB carboxylase beta (ACACB), mRNA

[NM_001093] Estrogen GLY TAM Gene Description

Homo sapiens aconitase 1 , soluble924022572 1.139183377 1.165541 198 AC01

(AC01 ), mRNA [NM_002197]

Homo sapiens acyl-Coenzyme A oxidase993092495 1.098854218 1.042465761 ACOX1 1 , palmitoyl (ACOX1 ), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_004035]

Homo sapiens acyl-Coenzyme A oxidase-016070143 1.0132569 1.022428531 ACOXL

like (ACOXL), mRNA [NM_018308]

Homo sapiens acyl-CoA synthetase .0181852 1.02313747 0.999307093 ACSBG1 bubblegum family member 1 (ACSBG1 ), mRNA [NM_015162]

Homo sapiens acyl-CoA synthetase.01395948 1.057750964 1.031683179 ACSBG2 bubblegum family member 2 (ACSBG2), mRNA [NM_030924]

Homo sapiens acyl-CoA synthetase long-612592666 1.092020546 1.034547582 ACSL3 chain family member 3 (ACSL3), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_004457]

Homo sapiens acyl-CoA synthetase long-974679631 1.083725967 1.051901779 ACSL4 chain family member 4 (ACSL4), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_004458]

Homo sapiens acyl-CoA synthetase long-997922719 1.056285625 1.042465761 ACSL5 chain family member 5 (ACSL5), transcript variant 3, mRNA [NM_203380]

Homo sapiens mRNA for KIAA0837062159186 1.021012126 1.052631 155 ACSL6

protein, partial cds. [AB020644]

Homo sapiens long chain fatty acyl CoA010451446 1.062895674 1.044635763 ACSL6 synthetase 2 (LACS2) mRNA, complete cds. [AF099740]

Homo sapiens acyl-CoA synthetase long-993781093 1.01 1 152081 1.0132569 ACSL6 chain family member 6 (ACSL6), transcript variant 2, mRNA [NM_001009185]

Homo sapiens acyl-CoA synthetase019597683 1.136816973 1.034547582 ACSM1 medium-chain family member 1 (ACSM1 ), mRNA [NM_052956]

Homo sapiens acyl-CoA synthetase medium-chain family member 2 (ACSM2),040300267 1.143930973 1.012554807 ACSM2

nuclear gene encoding mitochondrial protein, mRNA [NM_182617]

Homo sapiens 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 1 (lysophosphatidic acid914465089 1.1 16512962 1 .088997015 AG PAT 1

acyltransferase, alpha) (AGPAT1 ), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_00641 1]

Homo sapiens 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 2 (lysophosphatidic acid141554707 2.106722072 1.94126894 AGPAT2

acyltransferase, beta) (AGPAT2), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_006412] Estrogen GLY TAM Gene Description

Homo sapiens 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 4 (lysophosphatidic acid.96996191 1.048989328 1 .041021598 AGPAT4

acyltransferase, delta) (AGPAT4), mRNA [NM_020133]

Homo sapiens 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 4 (lysophosphatidic acid991029563 1.009751298 1 .030968319 AGPAT4

acyltransferase, delta) (AGPAT4), mRNA [NM_020133]

Homo sapiens 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 5 (lysophosphatidic acid281647924 1.170398641 0.984866443 AGPAT5

acyltransferase, epsilon) (AGPAT5), mRNA [NM_018361]

Homo sapiens Fas (TNF receptor

048989328 1.168777249 1 .130530567 FAS superfamily, member 6) (FAS), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_000043]

Homo sapiens Fas ligand (TNF

082224645 1.025267238 1.039579435 FASLG superfamily, member 6) (FASLG), mRNA

[NM_000639]

Homo sapiens Fas-activated

910038824 1.21335356 1 .147902414 FASTK serine/threonine kinase (FASTK), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_006712]

Homo sapiens Fas-activated

906890329 1.18181 1547 1 .151887642 FASTK serine/threonine kinase (FASTK), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_006712]

Homo sapiens FAST kinase domains 1865136691 1.23370717 1.140763716 FASTKD1

(FASTKD1 ), mRNA [NM_024622]

Homo sapiens mRNA for KIAA1800037419937 1.048989328 1.030253954 FASTKD1

protein, partial cds. [AB058703]

Homo sapiens FAST kinase domains 2071030823 0.9087781 16 0.948026965 FASTKD2

(FASTKD2), mRNA [NM_014929]

Homo sapiens FAST kinase domains 5078480432 1.019597683 1.337000495 FASTKD5

(FASTKD5), mRNA [NM_021826]

Homo sapiens 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-169587664 1.29056249 1.174461971 HMGCR Coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), mRNA

[NM_000859]

Homo sapiens 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-163120042 1.199139914 1.1 15739322 HMGCS1 Coenzyme A synthase 1 (soluble)

(HMGCS1 ), mRNA [NM_002130]

Homo sapiens 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-997922719 0.996540263 1.074004472 HMGCS2 Coenzyme A synthase 2 (mitochondrial)

(HMGCS2), mRNA [NM_005518]

Homo sapiens leptin receptor overlapping062895674 1.330529041 1.170398641 LEPROTL1 transcript-like 1 (LEPROTL1 ), mRNA

[NM_015344]

Homo sapiens lipin 1 (LPIN1 ), mRNA763658749 1.207480591 1.182631 LPIN1

[NM_145693] Estrogen GLY TAM Gene Description

Homo sapiens lipin 2 (LPIN2), imRNA

0.947370071 1.096571589 1.067325338 LPIN2

[NM_014646]

Homo sapiens lipin 3 (LPIN3), mRNA

1.00695555 1.237132479 1.077733145 LPIN3

[NM_022896]

Homo sapiens perilipin (PLIN), mRNA

1.076986376 1.131314463 1.029540083 PLIN

[NM_002666]

Homo sapiens sorbin and SH3 domain

1.015366101 0.996540263 1.019597683 SORBS1 containing 1 (SORBS1 ), transcript variant

2, mRNA [NM_015385]

Homo sapiens cDNA FLJ 12406 fis, clone MAMMA1002842, weakly similar to Mus

0.942131274 1.056285625 0.948684315 SORBS1

musculus c-Cbl associated protein CAP mRNA. [AK022468]

Homo sapiens uncoupling protein 1 (mitochondrial, proton carrier) (UCP1 ),

0.986232704 1.014662547 1.038859103 UCP1

nuclear gene encoding mitochondrial protein, mRNA [NM_021833]

Homo sapiens uncoupling protein 3 (mitochondrial, proton carrier) (UCP3),

0.942131274 0.921464186 1.00765376 UCP3 nuclear gene encoding mitochondrial protein, transcript variant long, mRNA [NM_003356]

Homo sapiens vascular endothelial growth

1.183451022 1.575707772 1 .225185332 VEGFA factor A (VEGFA), transcript variant 1 , mRNA [NM_001025366]

Homo sapiens vascular endothelial growth

0.942784536 1.677136369 1 .447938172 VEGFB

factor B (VEGFB), mRNA [NM_003377]

Homo sapiens ATP-binding cassette, sub¬

1.01 1 152081 1.038139271 1.082975046 ABCA1 family A (ABC1 ), member 1 (ABCA1 ), mRNA [NM_005502]

EXAMPLE 4

Glyceollins alter gene expression in primate mammary tissue

TABLE 2 shows the number of significant up-regulated and down-regulated genes in mammary tissue comparing glyceollin-enriched soy protein isolate to normal soy protein isolate. The HADH gene, involved in fatty acid metabolism, was up-regulated with glyceollin treatment. Several genes involved with glycerolipid metabolism were up-regulated including GPD1, GPAM, AGPAT2, and GPAM. The PTGDS gene that is involved with arachidonic acid metabolism was up-regulated. Several genes involved with the ECM-receptor interaction were down regulated including ITGA8, SDC1, syndecan 1, and ITGA2. Up-regulated genes were

ITGA7 and CD36. Several genes involved with the PPAR signaling pathway were up-regulated including LPL, PLIN, SORBSl, CD36, and DBI. Several genes involved with the i signaling pathway were up-regulated including PRKAR2B, SORBSl, and ACACB.

TABLE 2

Grp1 Grp1 Grp2 Grp2 Gene

Protein Gene ID Ratio Direction

Mean SEM Mean SEM Identifier

Arachidonic acid metabolism

Prostaglandin D2 synthase

PTGDS 10.95 0.29 12.02 0.18 2.1 1 Up NM_000954 21 kDa (brain)

Prostaglandin D2 synthase

PTGDS 1 1.05 0.25 12.03 0.12 1.96 Up BC005939 21 kDa (brain)

Phospholipase A2, group

PLA2G3 4.55 0.06 4.89 0.07 1.27 Up NM_015715 III

ECM-receptor interaction

Integrin, alpha 8 ITGA8 6.54 0.33 5.38 0.19 2.24 Down AM 93623

Syndecan 1 SDC1 8 0.19 7.16 0.13 1.8 Down NM_002997

Syndecan 1 SDC1 8.69 0.17 7.94 0.18 1.68 Down NM_002997

Integrin, alpha 7 ITGA7 8.5 0.07 9.23 0.25 1.65 Up AK022548 syndecan 1 SDC1 7.28 0.21 6.58 0.1 1.63 Down Z48199

Integrin, alpha 7 ITGA7 7.4 0.03 8.06 0.24 1.59 Up AF072132

Integrin, alpha 2 (CD49B,

alpha 2 subunit of VLA-2 ITGA2 7.81 0.06 7.19 0.15 1.54 Down N95414 receptor)

CD36 molecule

CD36 1 1 .09 0.13 1 1.71 0.18 1.53 Up NM_000072 (thrombospondin receptor)

PPAR signaling pathway

Lipoprotein lipase LPL 1 1 .21 0.18 12.15 0.2 1.91 Up BF672975

Perilipin PLIN 1 1 .03 0.07 1 1.8 0.24 1.7 Up NM_002666

Sorbin and SH3 domain

SORBS1 7.89 0.08 8.58 0.27 1.61 Up N21458 containing 1

Sorbin and SH3 domain

SORBS1 8.97 0.06 9.63 0.13 1.58 Up NM_015385 containing 1

CD36 molecule

CD36 1 1 .09 0.13 1 1.71 0.18 1.53 Up NM_000072 (thrombospondin receptor)

Diazepam binding inhibitor

(GABA receptor modulator,

DBI 1 1.27 0.1 1 1 1.85 0.16 1 .5 Up BC006466 acyl-Coenzyme A binding

protein)

Diazepam binding inhibitor

(GABA receptor modulator,

DBI 1 1.34 0.06 1 1 .9 0.16 1.48 Up M 15887 acyl-Coenzyme A binding

protein)

CD36 molecule

CD36 1 1 .85 0.12 12.33 0.15 1 .4 Up M98399 (thrombospondin receptor)

Oxidized low density

lipoprotein (lectin-like) OLR1 4.4 0.04 4.13 0.1 1.2 Down AF035776 receptor 1 Grp1 Grp1 Grp2 Grp2 Gene

Protein Gene ID Ratio Direction

Mean SEM Mean SEM Identifier

Insulin signaling pathway

Protein kinase, cAMP- dependent, regulatory, type PRKAR2B 9.07 0.16 9.9 0.28 1.77 Up NM_002736 II, beta

Sorbin and SH3 domain

SORBS1 7.89 0.08 8.58 0.27 1.61 Up N21458 containing 1

Acetyl-Coenzyme A

ACACB 7.75 0.22 8.43 0.16 1.61 Up R99037 carboxylase beta

Sorbin and SH3 domain

SORBS1 8.97 0.06 9.63 0.13 1.58 Up NM_015385 containing 1

Acetyl-Coenzyme A

ACACB 7.32 0.15 7.97 0.1 1 1.56 Up NM_001093 carboxylase beta

Acetyl-Coenzyme A

ACACB 9.32 0.15 9.89 0.17 1.49 Up AI057637 carboxylase beta

Protein kinase, AMP- activated, beta 1 non- PRKAB1 6.7 0.14 7.1 0.08 1.32 Up NM_006253 catalytic subunit

Protein kinase, AMP- activated, beta 2 non- PRKAB2 4.43 0.08 4.8 0.08 1.28 Up NM_005399 catalytic subunit

Sterol regulatory element

binding transcription factor SREBF1 9.1 0.1 9.43 0.07 1.26 Up NM_004176 1

Protein kinase, cAMP- dependent, regulatory, type PRKAR2A 6.12 0.07 6.44 0.1 1.25 Up BC002763 II, alpha

Protein kinase C, iota PRKCI 7.4 0.03 7.12 0.08 1.21 Down L18964

Ras homolog enriched in

RHEB 8.23 0.06 8.5 0.02 1.21 Up AF493921 brain

EXAMPLE 5

Glyceollins alter gene expression in mouse liver tissue

TABLE 3 shows gene expression in liver tissue treated with glyceollins, TABLE 4 shows the number of significant up-regulated (>1.5), and TABLE 5 shows the number of significant down-regulated (<1.5) genes glyceollin treated mouse liver tissue with glyceollins compared to controls.

As can be appreciated from TABLES 3, 4, and 5, treatment with glyceollins caused significant changes in gene expression. A total of 13 genes were up-regulated and 13 genes were down- regulated with glyceollin treatment. In this study the lipid metabolism gene ACOX1 was significantly up-regulated. The up-regulation of this gene may be performed in the liver to prevent excess lipid accumulation. Also, up-regulation of the AHSG and LEP genes alters regulation of body fat and insulin sensitivity. TABLE 3

RefSeq Group 1 Group 2 Group 21

Symbol Description

Number C1 C2 C3 Avg TR1 TR2 TR3 Avg Group 1

Fructose

NM_019395 Fbp1 0.38 0.42 0.57 0.46 2.7 0.27 2.03 1 .67 3.66 bisphosphatase 1

FBJ osteosarcoma

NM_010234 Fos 0.24 0.25 0.22 0.23 0.22 0.23 0.17 0.21 0.9 oncogene

FK506 binding protein

NM_020009 Frapl 12-rapamycin 0.32 0.27 0.34 0.31 0.52 0.24 0.35 0.37 1 .21 associated protein 1

Fibroblast growth

NM_177798 Frs2 factor receptor 0.68 0.51 0.52 0.57 0.9 0.58 0.9 0.79 1 .39 substrate 2

Fibroblast growth

NM_144939 Frs3 factor receptor 3.24 2.9 2 2.72 2.06 3.07 2.28 2.47 0.91 substrate 3

Glucose-6-

NM_008061 G6pc phosphatase, 6 4.78 3.43 4.73 3.64 6.3 3.55 4.5 0.95 catalytic

Glucose-6-

NM_021331 G6pc2 phosphatase, 0.39 0.27 0.15 0.27 0.28 0.01 0.08 0.12 0.46 catalytic, 2

Glucose-6-phosphate

NM_019468 G6pd2 0.47 0.2 0.15 0.28 0.32 0.05 0.23 0.2 0.72 dehydrogenase 2

Glucose-6-phosphate

NM_008062 G6pdx dehydrogenase X- 0.61 0.81 1 .77 1 .06 1 .05 1 .27 0.97 1 .09 1 .03 linked

Growth factor

receptor bound

NM_021356 Gab1 0.58 0.96 1 .26 0.93 0.78 0.8 0.66 0.75 0.8 protein 2-associated

protein 1

NM 008100 Gcq Glucagon 2.09 2.56 2.36 2.34 1 .94 2.34 1 .92 2.07 0.88

NM 010292 Gck Glucokinase 164.43 154.99 1 18.53 145.99 84.14 158.53 131 .53 124.73 0.85

Glycerol-3-phosphate

NM_010271 Gpd 1 dehydrogenase 1 0.73 0.5 0.36 0.53 0.77 0.7 0.43 0.63 1 .19

(soluble)

Glycerol phosphate

NM_010274 Gpd2 dehydrogenase 2, 1 1 .64 9.39 7.32 9.45 7.91 12.84 9.57 10.1 1 1 .07 mitochondrial

TABLE 4

RefSeq Group 1 Group 2 Group 21

Symbol Description

Number C1 C2 C3 Avg TR1 TR2 TR3 Avg Group 1

Glyceraldehyde-3-

NM_008084 Gapdh phosphate 26.18 16.7 49.09 30.66 85.24 47.24 96.69 76.39 2.49 dehydrogenase

Acyl-Coenzyme A

NM_015729 Acoxl 0.66 0.44 2.37 1 .16 13.73 2.16 1 1 .03 8.97 7.75 oxidase 1 , palmitoyl

Alpha-2-HS-

NM_013465 Ahsg 2.45 0.83 2.64 1 .97 53.1 1 4.13 42.04 33.09 16.76 glycoprotein

Fructose

NM_019395 Fbp1 0.38 0.42 0.57 0.46 2.7 0.27 2.03 1 .67 3.66 bisphosphatase 1

NM 010568 Insr Insulin receptor 0.1 0.22 0.14 0.15 0.57 0.3 0.57 0.48 3.13

Insulin receptor

XM_357863 Irs2 0 0.09 0.26 0.12 0.33 0.1 1 0.53 0.33 2.77 substrate 2

NM 010591 Jun Jun oncogene 0.13 0.18 0.18 0.16 0.47 0.23 0.41 0.37 2.24

NM 008493 Lep Leptin 0.24 0.22 0 0.15 0.5 0.33 0.86 0.57 3.71

V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat

NM_021284 Kras sarcoma viral 0.28 0.31 0.24 0.28 0.72 0.31 0.91 0.65 2.35 oncogene homolog

Pyruvate kinase liver

NM_013631 Pklr 0.48 0.2 0.49 0.39 0.1 1 9.53 0.13 3.26 8.35 and red blood cell

V-raf-leukemia viral

NM_029780 Raf1 0.41 0.23 0.77 0.47 0.56 2.31 0.31 1 .06 2.24 oncogene 1

Serine (or cysteine)

NM_008871 Serpinel peptidase inhibitor, 0.21 0.06 0.2 0.16 0.25 0.1 1 0.53 0.3 1 .89 clade E, member 1

Vascular endothelial

NM_009505 Vegfa 0.42 0.42 0.57 0.47 1 .42 1 .04 0.72 1 .06 2.27 growth factor A

NM 009735 B2m Beta-2 microglobulin 5.89 3.93 8.09 5.97 13.14 6.74 13.82 1 1 .23 1 .88

TABLE 5

RefSeq Group 1 Group 2 Group 21

Symbol Description

Number C1 C2 C3 Avg TR1 TR2 TR3 Avg Group 1

NM 01 1 164 Prl Prolactin 0.22 0.06 0.41 0.23 0.04 0.13 0.07 0.08 0.35

TABLE 6 displays the number of significant up-regulated (>1.5) and TABLE 7 displays the number of significant down-regulated (<1.5) genes in mouse liver tissue treated with glyceollins (E2 added) compared to controls (E2 added). A total of 19 genes were significantly up- regulated by glyceollin treatment, and a total of 31 genes were significantly down-regulated. Again, in this study the lipid metabolism gene ACOX1 was significantly up-regulated and up regulation of the AHSG gene was detected. Several other up-regulated genes involved in lipid and cholesterol function were caused by glyceollin treatment. The SORBS1 gene is important in lipid transport and SREBFl is involved in cholesterol transport. TABLE 7 also displays several significant down-regulated genes. INS1 is important in insulin regulation.

TABLE 6

TABLE 7

Genes Under-Expressed in Group 2 vs. Group 1

Group 21

Symbol Description

Group 1

Aebpl AE binding protein 1 0.43

Araf V-raf murine sarcoma 361 1 viral oncogene homolog 0.47 Genes Under-Expressed in Group 2 vs. Group 1

Group 21

Symbol Description

Group 1

Cbl Casitas B-lineage lymphoma 0.4

Cebpa CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP), alpha 0.45

Cebpd CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP), delta 0.49

Csn2 Casein beta 0.39

Dok2 Docking protein 2 0.34

Dok3 Docking protein 3 0.3

Eif4e Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E 0.45

Frs3 Fibroblast growth factor receptor substrate 3 0.53

G6pc Glucose-6-phosphatase, catalytic 0.66

Gcg Glucagon 0.48

Gck Glucokinase 0.43

Gpd2 Glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase 2, mitochondrial 0.52

Grb10 Growth factor receptor bound protein 10 0.35

Grb2 Growth factor receptor bound protein 2 0.36

Gsk3b Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta 0.49 igf2 Insulin-like growth factor 2 0.65

Ins1 Insulin I 0.39

Ldlr Low density lipoprotein receptor 0.38

Nck2 Non-catalytic region of tyrosine kinase adaptor protein 2 0.37

Nos2 Nitric oxide synthase 2, inducible, macrophage 0.4

Npy Neuropeptide Y 0.43

Phip Pleckstrin homology domain interacting protein 0.54

Pik3ca Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, catalytic, alpha polypeptide 0.4

Pik3r2 Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, regulatory subunit, polypeptide 2 (p85 beta) 0.51

Pppl ca Protein phosphatase 1 , catalytic subunit, alpha isoform 0.51

Ptprf Protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type, F 0.52

Retn Resistin 0.41

Shc3 Src homology 2 domain-containing transforming protein C3 0.39

Slc27a4 Solute carrier family 27 (fatty acid transporter), member 4 0.42

Cholesterol is an integral component of lipid membranes in eukaryotic cells that is required for maintaining membrane fluidity and facilitating the trafficking and signaling of membrane- associated proteins. Cholesterol is also a necessary precursor for important metabolites, such as steroid hormones, bile salts and oxysterols. Several pathways coordinate cholesterol homeostasis in the body. Briefly, in the first pathway, cells acquire cholesterol, primarily through the binding of circulating cholesterol-rich low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles to cellular lipoprotein receptors. The receptor-ligand complex is subsequently absorbed into the cell through clathrin-mediated endocytosis, and cholesterol is then used by a variety of downstream biochemical pathways. In the second pathway, cholesterol is synthesized when intra-cellular levels are low, through activation of the SCAP/SREBP signaling cascade. SREBP (sterol regulatory element binding protein) is a transcription factor that regulates expression of numerous cholesterol synthesizing genes, and SCAP (SREBP cleavage activating protein) regulates its activity. Finally, a reverse cholesterol transport pathway is activated when the cell accumulates excess cholesterol, which must then be transported to the liver for excretion into the bile. In this third pathway, circulating high-density lipoprotein (HDL) acts as the primary acceptor of cholesterol from non-liver cells. Genistein has been shown to produce a hypolipidemic effect through the up-regulation of genes involved in fatty acid catabolism in the liver. Of particular interest were the observed changes in the expression of genes involved in fatty acid catabolism, including ACOX1.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: DIABETES

Primate Study and Diets Subjects for this study were 30 adult female surgically menopausal cynomolgus macaques

(Macaca fas cularis) with an average age of 17.8 ± 0.5 years. All animals had been ovariectomized for 4 years and housed since this time in stable social groups of 3-4 animals each. Animals were randomized by social group to receive one of three diets containing the following: (1) casein / lactalbumin (C/L, n = 9); (2) soy protein isolate containing 193.6 mg/1800 kcal isoflavones (SOY, n = 11); and (3) glyceollin-enriched soy protein containing 188.5 mg/1800 kcal isoflavones and 134.1 mg/1800 kcal glyceollins (GLY, n = 10). All isoflavone doses are expressed in aglycone equivalents. Each diet also included a physiologic dose of micronized 17p-estradiol (E2, 1 mg/1800 kcal), as described previously (Wood et al 2006). Additional details regarding diet production, composition, and analysis are also provided in this prior report (Wood et al 2006).

Briefly, the GLY supplement contained 959.5 g of unconjugated glyceollins per gram of product (76.8% glyceollin I, 9.9% glyceollin II, and 13.6% glyceollin III), as determined by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and UV-monitoring (visible spectrophotometry).

Relative isoflavone content was also measured using HPLC (by the manufacturer) and reported in aglycone units as 61.5% genistein, 34.6% daidzein, and 3.8% glyceitin for SOY and 52.6% genistein, 43.0% daidzein, and 4.4% glyceitin for GLY. Diets were isocaloric and similar in macronutrients, cholesterol, calcium, and phosphorus. The soy protein isolate was provided by The Soke Company (St. Louis, MO, USA), while the glyceollin-enriched protein was provided through collaborative efforts of The Solae Company; the Southern Regional Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture; and the Tulane University School of Medicine.

Estradiol tablets were obtained from Mylan Pharmaceuticals (Morganton, WV). Animals were fed ~120 kcal per kg body weight (BW) once daily. Daily doses of isoflavones, glyceollins, and E2 were scaled to 1800 kcal of diet (rather than BW) to account for differences in metabolic rates between the monkeys and human subjects (Schneider et al 2004). Monkeys were thus given 0.44 mg (C/L), 12.91 mg (SOY), or 12.57 mg (GLY) of isoflavones/kg BW; 8.94 mg glyceollins/kg BW (GLY); and 66.7 μg of E2/kg BW (all groups) each day. All procedures involving animals were conducted in compliance with State and Federal laws, standards of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and guidelines established by the Wake Forest University Instituational Animal Care and Use Committee. The facilities and laboratory animal program of Wake Forest University are fully accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care. Gene microarrays and quantitative gene expression assays

For microarray analyses, total RNA was extracted from frozen mammary fat biopsies using Tri Reagent (Molecular Research Center, Cincinnati, OH), purified using RNeasy Mini kit

(QIAGEN, Valencia, CA), and quantitated using a NanoDrop ND-1000 UV-vis

spectrophotometer (NanoDrop, Wilmington, DE). Biopsy collection has been described previously (Wood et al 2006). RNA intactness and quality were confirmed using an Agilent

2100 Bioanalyzer (Agilent Technologies, Wilmington, DE). The 3 highest quality samples from each group (n = 12 total) were used for microarray analysis. RNA was hybridized to GeneChip Rhesus Macaque Genome Arrays (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA), washed, and scanned at Cogenics^®, a Division of Clinical Data (Morrisville, NC). Intensity data were extracted from scanned images using GeneChip Operating Software (Affymetrix). Expression of ten gene targets related to lipid and glucose metabolism pathways (identified on microarray analysis) were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Macaque- specific qRT-PCR primer-probe sets were generated for the internal control genes GAPDH and BACT, while rhesus macaque or human ABI Taqman primer-probe sets were used for target assays (see TABLE 11 , showing primer/probe sets for target genes evaluated by qRT-PCR). Total RNA was extracted, quantitated, and reverse-transcribed as above from all mammary samples (n = 30). Real-time PCR reactions were performed on an Applied Biosystems ABI PRISM^® 7500 Fast Sequence Detection System using Taqman reagents and standard thermo cycling protocol. Relative expression was determined using the A_ Ct method calculated by ABI Relative Quantification 7500 Software v2.0.1. Stock mammary tissue was run in duplicate on each plate as an external calibrator.

TABLE 11

For TABLE 7, Hs— Homo sapiens; Mf— Macaca fasckularis (cynomolgus macaque); Mm— Macaca mulatta (rhesus macaque).

Serum markers

Blood was collected at baseline and post-treatment for measurement of serum markers. Serum concentrations of total glyceollins (Ι-ΠΙ) and soy isoflavonoids were determined by liquid chromatographic-photodiode array mass spectrometric analysis. Serum concentrations of E2, vascular and bone turnover markers (monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, endothelin (ET)-1, and CrossLaps collagen degradation products (XLAPs)), and metabolic markers (insulin, glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-l), adiponectin, and leptin) were measured using commercially available kits and protocols for radioimmunoassay (E2, DSL-4800 ultra-sensitive from

Diagnostic Systems Laboratories, Webster, TX) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (MCP- 1 and ET-1 from R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN; XLAPs from Osteometer Biotech A/S, Herlev, Denmark; GLP-1 (Total), leptin, and insulin from ALPCO Diagnostics, Salem, NH; and adiponectin from Mercodia, Winston-Salem, NC). Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and triglyceride (TG) concentrations were measured using enzymatic methods on a COBAS FARA II analyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Montclair, NJ) with standard protocols and reagents. Serum assays were run in a fully standardized clinical chemistry laboratory at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. HDL concentrations were measured using the heparin-manganese precipitation procedure. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) plus very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) was calculated as the difference between TPC and HDL. Samples from baseline and post-treatment timepoints were run at the same time for all serum measures.

Statistical analyses

Microarray data were analyzed using the GeneSifter^® software program (Geospiza, Seattle, WA). Intensity data were RMA-normalized, converted to a log2 scale, screened for heterogeneity among samples and groups, and evaluated using supervised analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pairwise comparisons between treatments. Principal components analysis (PCA), pattern navigation, cluster analysis, heatmapping, and KEGG pathway analyses were performed on filtered data subsets, as described in results. Differences in gene numbers altered by each treatment were compared using a Chi-Square Test. Euclidean distances (representing the numeric difference between treatment vectors) were calculated as part of hierarchical clustering dendrograms using average linkage. Pathways were evaluated via KEGG analyses; a z-score > 2.0 was considered a significant overrepresentation of genes in a particular pathway.

Representation of differentially expressed genes within specific canonical and functional categories was evaluated using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software v8.0 (Ingenuity Systems, Redwood City, CA). Significance of gene numbers within a given category was determined in IPA using a Fisher's Exact Test with Benjamini and Hochberg correction and expressed as -loglO (P value) for each treatment group. Other data were analyzed using the SAS statistical package (version 9.1, SAS Institute; Cary, NC). A general linear model was used to determine mean values and calculate group differences. All data were evaluated for normal distribution and homogeneity of variances among groups. Gene expression and serum marker data were log-transformed to improve distribution, and data were then retransformed to original scale and reported as fold-change of control with 90% confidence interval. One animal in the SOY group was excluded from gene expression analyses based on poor RNA quality. Final group sizes were thus n = 9 for C/L and n = 10 for SOY and n = 10 for GLY for qRT-PCR data. Post-treatment serum lipid and marker data were covaried by baseline values. All pairwise P-values were adjusted for the number of pairwise tests using a Bonferroni correction. A two- tailed significance level of 0.05 was chosen for all comparisons.

EXAMPLE 6

Dietary intake

Body weight, serum E2, and serum isoflavonoids were measured as indicators of diet intake.

Treatment groups did not differ significantly in mean BW at baseline or post-treatment, in BW change, or in serum E2 concentrations (ANOVA P > 0.05 for all). Mean serum glyceollin concentrations were 134.2 ± 34.6 nmol/L in the GLY group and negligible in the SOY group at 4 hours post-feeding (P < 0.001 compared to GLY), while total serum isoflavonoid

concentrations were significantly higher in the SOY and GLY groups compared to C/L group at 4 hours (P < 0.001 for both) and 24 hours (P < 0.05 for both) post-feeding. The SOY and GLY groups did not differ in total serum isoflavonoids at either 4 hours (P = 0.59) or 24 hours (P = 0.73) post-feeding; individual isoflavonoids were also comparable between the two diets. Total serum isoflavonoids for the SOY and GLY diets at 4 hours post-feeding were comparable to those reported in human soy intervention studies.

EXAMPLE 7

Gene expression profiles in mammary fat for diets containing casein / lactalbumin (C/L), standard soy protein (SOY), and glyceollin-enriched soy protein (GLY)

Global expression profiles showed greater numbers of genes altered by GLY compared to SOY. For example, among 139 total (named) genes with FC > 1.5 and ANOVA P < 0.05, a greater number were altered in the GLY group (n = 111) compared to the SOY group (n = 44) (P < 0.001 by Chi-square test) with only 14% overlap of GLY genes with SOY genes (FIG. 3). FIG. 3 demonstrates that global expression profiles showed greater numbers of genes altered by glyceollin compared to standard soy protein. For example, among 139 total (named) genes with FC > 1.5 and ANOVA P < 0.05, a greater number were altered in the glyceollin group (n =

111) compared to the standard soy protein group (n = 44) (P < 0.001 by Chi-square test) with only 14% overlap of glyceollin genes with standard soy protein genes. Supervised hierarchical clustering indicated that C/L and SOY (rather than GLY and SOY) were the most closely associated groups with a Euclidean distance of ~11 for genes significantly altered at FC > 1.5 (FIG. 4). FIG. 4 shows that supervised hierarchical clustering indicated that casein / lactalbumin and standard soy protein (rather than glyceollin and standard soy protein) were the most closely associated groups with a Euclidean distance of ~11 for genes significantly altered at FC > 1.5. The distinction in profiles for glyceollin from standard soy protein was also evident qualitatively from PCA vectors for genes altered at FC > 1.5. The distinction in profiles for GLY from SOY was also evident qualitatively from PCA vectors (FIG. 4) and heatmaps (FIG. 5) for genes altered at FC > 1.5. A complete list of all significantly altered genes at FC > 1.5 by ANOVA and by supervised pairwise comparisons is provided in TABLE 9. TABLE 9 shows the ten gene targets related to lipid and/ or carbohydrate metabolism, PPAR and AMPK signaling, and/ or adipocytokine activity that were evaluated by qRT-PCR. Of these targets, eight out of ten were upregulated in the glyceollin group compared to casein / lactalbumin (P < 0.05 for all) while none of the ten differed between standard soy protein and casein / lactalbumin groups.

EXAMPLE 8 Pathway analyses

Pathway analyses were used to sort altered genes by canonical and functional categories. The most overrepresented canonical pathways in IPA for altered genes in the GLY group all related to lipid, carbohydrate, and/ or energy metabolism. These pathways included

glycerophospholipid and glycerolipid metabolism, cytochrome p450 metabolism, and AMPK signaling (P < 0.01 for all) (see TABLE 8, which shows genes significantly altered by GLY and standard soy protein diets (related to lipid, glucose, and energy metabolism) by KEGG pathway analysis; pathways were identified by KEGG analysis from gene probes with FC > 1.5, P < 0.05, and > 2 genes altered in the pathway; only pathways with significant z-score (> 2) are shown.); notable pathways include glycerolipid metabolism, peroxisome proliferator-activating receptor (PPAR) signaling, and cytochrome p450 metabolism. Overrepresentation of pathways with significant z-score or related pathways was not seen for the SOY group. The most overrepresented functional pathways in IPA for GLY genes were lipid metabolism, small molecule biochemistry, and carbohydrate metabolism (P < 0.05 for all). The most significant subcategory within lipid metabolism was triacylglycerol biosynthesis (-logl O (P value) = 6.9). Similar patterns were seen with KEGG pathway analysis, which revealed significant

overrepresentation of altered genes (z-score > 2) for the GLY group related to lipid, glucose, and energy metabolism (TABLE 8). Notable pathways here included glycerolipid metabolism, peroxisome proliferator-activating receptor (PPAR) signaling, and cytochrome p450

metabolism.

TABLE 8

EXAMPLE 9

Quantitative gene expression

To further examine these findings, ten gene targets related to lipid and/ or carbohydrate metabolism, PPAR and AMPK signaling, and/ or adipocytokine activity were evaluated by qRT- PCR. Nine out of the 16 targets evaluated were upregulated in the GLY group compared to

C/L (P < 0.05 for all) while none of the 16 differed between SOY and C/L groups (see TABLE 9, showing dietary protein effects on relative expression of select genes related to lipid and glucose metabolism, PPAR signaling, and adipocytokine activity within mammary adipose tissue, as determined by qRT-PCR). Targets increased in the GLY group included genes for adipocytokine signaling (adiponectin and leptin), carbohydrate metabolism (glycerol-3- phosphate dehydrogenase and glycogen synthase), PPAR signaling (PPARy and lipinl), and lipid metabolism (lipoprotein lipase and perilipin). It is worth noting that considerable crosstalk occurs among these categories and that particular molecules may thus function in multiple pathways.

TABLE 9

Values represent mean fold-change relative to C/L diet with 90% confidence interval.

* P < 0.05 vs C/L; ^** P < 0.01 vs C/L; ^# P < 0.05 vs SOY. EXAMPLE 10

Serum markers

Serum lipid measures did not differ significantly among groups at baseline (ANOVA P > 0.05 for all). Following treatment, the GLY group had lower TC and LDL+VLDL compared to

C/L and SOY groups (P < 0.01 for all) and greater TG compared to C/L (P = 0.008) (see TABLE 10, showing treatment effects on serum lipids, vascular, bone turnover, and metabolic markers). The SOY group also had greater TG compared to the C/L group (P = 0.02). No significant group differences were seen for HDL or TC to HDL ratio. No group differences were observed for serum MCP-1, ET-1, XLAPS, or metabolic markers at baseline or post- treatment (ANOVA P > 0.05 for all).

TABLE 10

TC = total cholesterol; LDL = low density lipoprotein; VLDL = very low density lipoprotein;

HDL = high density lipoprotein; TG = triglyceride; GLP-1 = glucagon-like peptide-1

TABLE 10 demonstrates that serum lipid measures did not differ significantly among groups at baseline (ANOVA P > 0.05 for all). Following treatment, the glyceollin group had lower total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein + very low density lipoprotein compared to casein / lactalbumin and standard soy protein groups (P < 0.01 for all) and greater triglyceride compared to casein / lactalbumin (P = 0.008). The values of TABLE 10 represent mean (90% confidence interval) at post-treatment covaried by baseline measures. P values were corrected for multiple pairwise comparisons. For conversion of lipid values to SI units (mmol/1), divide by 38.67 for TC, LDL+VLDL, and HDL, and by 88.57 for TG. Symbols indicate significant differences with casein / lactalbumin group (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01) or with standard soy protein group (##P < 0.01). Glyceollins are a novel class of phytoalexin compounds produced as defense molecules in response to stress by certain types of leguminous plants, most notably soy. In this study we evaluated transcriptional profiles in mammary adipose tissue resulting from glyceollin-enriched soy protein in comparison with a standard soy protein isolate. We identified a distinct gene expression profile for GLY that showed minimal overlap with that of SOY. The effects of GLY related primarily to pathways involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, including PPAR and adipocytokine signaling, lipoprotein lipase, and triglyceride metabolism. The GLY diet also resulted in lower serum total cholesterol, specifically non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, compared to the C/L diet. These preliminary findings suggest that glyceollin- enriched soy protein has divergent effects from standard soy related to adipocyte activity and nutrient metabolism.

Diet is a major determinant of metabolic syndrome and related comorbid conditions, and dietary interventions with beneficial metabolic effects may have an important role in breast cancer prevention. Prior findings suggest that glyceollins may competitively bind estrogen receptors (ERs) and elicit selective ER-modulating properties distinct from soy isoflavonoids. The role of specific isoflavonoids and their derivatives in modulating metabolic pathways remains poorly understood. Notable genes upregulated by the GLY diet included PPARy, adiponectin, lipin 1, and lipoprotein lipase.

Prior results have shown that glyceollins may function as natural selective ER modulators. Results of this pilot study suggest that glyceollin-enriched soy protein may also have biologically relevant effects on pathways related to lipid, carbohydrate, and energy metabolism. The present inventors' findings demonstrate that soybean treatment prior to processing may alter the profile of bioactive constituents in soy protein, leading to distinct physiologic and metabolic effects from standard soy protein isolates. This idea may also have important implications for the identification of bioactive components in other plant-based foods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: GLUCOSE UPTAKE

Solutions

Krebs-Ringers-Hepes (KRH) buffer was prepared with 200 mL H₂0, 300 μΕ of 1 M CaCl₂, 300 _μΕ of 1.2 M MgS0₄, 300 μΕ of 1 M KH₂P0₄, 3 mL of 0.14 M KCl, 6 mL of 1 M HEPES in 1.2 M NaHC0₃, and 15 mL of 2.6 M NaCl. The pH was adjusted to 7.4 H₂0 was added to bring the final volume to 300mL. The resulting solution was filter sterilized with a 0.22 μιτι filter. D-glucose (MW=180.16) stock solution (100 mM) was prepared by dissolving 180.16 mg D- glucose in 10 mL H₂0.

Tracer working solution was prepared fresh for each plate by adding 3 μΐ of tracer stock solution (1 μθ/μΐ) to 297 \xL of lOOmM D-glucose to yield 0.1 μ& [³H]2-deoxyglucose in 99 mM glucose. 10 μΐ_^ was added to each well with a final volume in each well of 1000 μΐ_^ = 0.1 μθ at 0.99 mM D-glucose.

Insulin (MW=5808) stock solution (100 μΜ) was prepared by dissolving 2.90 mg insulin into 5 mL of 0.01 N HC1. To make working solutions: the stock solution was diluted 1:10 by adding 100 KRH buffer, giving solution A (10 μΜ); solution A was diluted by addi

n A to 932 KRH buffer, giving solution B (3 μΜ); solution A was diluted by adding 100

of solution A to 900 KRH buffer, giving solution C (1 μΜ);

solution B was diluted by adding 100 μί_^ of solution B to 900 μΐ_^ KRH buffer, giving solution D (300nM); solution C was diluted by adding 100

of solution C to 900 KRH buffer, giving solution E (lOOnM); solution D was diluted by adding 100

of solution D to 900 KRH buffer, giving solution F (30nM); solution E was diluted by adding 100

of solution E to 900 μί_^ KRH buffer, giving solution G (lOnM); solution F was diluted by adding 100 μΐ_^ of solution F to 900

KRH buffer, giving solution H (3nM); solution G was diluted by adding 100 of solution G to 900 μί_^ KRH buffer, giving solution I (InM); and solution H was diluted by adding 100 μ∑ of solution H to 900 μ∑ KRH buffer, giving solution J (0.3nM). 100 μ∑ of each concentration was added to each well with a final volume in each well of 1000 μΐ_^ (1:10 dilution when added to cells).

A 10 mM stock glyceollin solution was prepared by combining 3.38 mg of mixture of glyceollin I (about 76.8%), glyceolUn II (about 9.9%), and glyceoUin III (about 13.6%) with 1 mL DMSO. This stock solution was kept refrigerated. To make working solutions: 80 μΕ of the stock solution was dUuted with 3920 μ∑ KRH buffer, giving solution A (200 μΜ); solution A was dUuted by adding 500 μ∑ of solution A to 335 μ∑ KRH buffer, giving solution B (120 μΜ); solution A was diluted by adding 1000 μί_^ of solution A to 1000 μΐ_^ KRH buffer, giving solution C (100 μΜ); solution A was dUuted by adding 1000 ΐ. of solution A to 1500 ΐ. KRH buffer, giving solution D (80 μΜ); solution A was dUuted by adding 1000 μί_^ of solution A to 2330 μΐ_^ KRH buffer, giving solution E (60 μΜ); solution D was dUuted by adding 1000 μ∑ of solution D to 1000 μ∑ KRH buffer, giving solution F (40 μΜ); solution F was dUuted by adding 1000 μ∑ of solution F to 1000 μ∑ KRH buffer, giving solution G (20 μΜ); solution G was dUuted by adding 1000 μ∑ of solution G to 1000 μ∑ KRH buffer, giving solution H (10 μΜ); and solution H was diluted by adding 1000 μΐ. of solution H to 1000 μΐ. KRH buffer, giving solution I (5 μΜ). 100 μΐ_^ of each concentration was added to each well with a final volume in each well of 1000 (1:10 dilution when added to cells). Unless indicated otherwise {see, e.g., EXAMPLES 14 & 15), where the EXAMPLES below refer to glyceollin, a mixture of glyceollins I, II, and III, was used.

Cells

Cell culture and differentiation of murine 3T3-L1 cells is a well-accepted model for study of adipocyte differentiation, glucose uptake, and insulin action. These cells undergo a program of differentiation manifest by large lipid droplet accumulation when stimulated by the appropriate hormonal cocktail. The adipocytes express markers such as leptin and adiponectin, express Glut 4, and respond to insulin stimulation by increasing glucose uptake, similar to primary adipocytes. For these experiments, frozen preadipocytes were purchased from Zenbio

(Research Triangle Park, NC). They were thawed at 37°C, diluted with Zenbio Preadipocyte medium, and incubated in 24-well plates at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere containing 95% air and 5% C0₂ until confluent. Signals derived from confluency were allowed by incubating for 2 more days. Preadipocyte medium was replaced with Zenbio Differentiation Medium and the cells were incubated for 3 additional days; that medium was replaced with Zenbio Adipocyte Maintenece medium for about 2 weeks when greater than 95% of the cells appeared filled with large lipid droplets.

EXAMPLE 11

Glucose Stimulation & Glyceollin Incubation

Glucose uptake assay was performed with fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes after starving the cells of serum, insulin, and glucose in the Zenbio Adipocyte Maintenece medium by incubating at 37°C in 1 ml Krebs Ringer Buffer for different time periods as indicated in the figures after a 1 mL wash with KRH. The next day, the cells were washed once with KRH buffer, and then KRH, insulin, and/ or glyceollin solutions were added to wells 1-24 according to the challenge maps at FIGS. 7 and 8. The cells were incubated, then exposed to different concentrations of glyceollin, insulin, or both for 30 min or 45 min (for glyceollin alone) at 37°C in KRB, after which 10 μΕ of [³H]2- deoxyglucose in D-glucose was added. Each plate was then incubated in a 37°C water bath for 10 minutes, then placed on ice. The overlying medium was removed and replaced with 1 mL ice-cold KRH buffer, and each well was then washed twice with fresh ice-cold KRH buffer. The KRH buffer was removed, and 500 μΕ of radio- immunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) buffer was added, after which all visible cells were washed free of (displaced from) the bottom of each well using a 1 mL pipette. From each well, 450 μΐ_^ was collected for assay and measured for [³Pi] in a liquid scintillation counter. Data were expressed as CPM/well. A similar experiment was performed in which the cells were not starved of serum prior to incubation with insulin. Those data are shown in FIG. 9, which reflects a comparatively small increase in insulin-mediated glucose uptake. As shown in FIG. 10, for example, insulin-mediated glucose uptake was greatly improved (sensitivity increased about 10x versus FIG. 9, and maximum insulin-mediated glucose uptake improved about 5 ) by starving the cells of ZenBio Adipocyte Maintenance medium (which contains high levels of glucose as well as significant levels of insulin) for 24 hours by replacing the Maintenance medium with KRH. Comparison of FIGS. 9 and 10 reveals that replacement of ZenBio Adipocyte Maintenance medium with KRH buffer containing neither glucose nor insulin improved the insulin responsiveness of the cells. FIG. 11 shows another insulin dose response curve from experiments identical to those from FIG. 10, except that a rapid pipetting technique was used. These data demonstrate the potential for creating insulin resistance in this cell line. Further data demonstrate that glyceollin does not alter insulin sensitivity, as suggested by Park, S. et al. "Glyceollins, One of the Phytoalexins Derived from Soybeans under Fungal Stress, Enhance Insulin Sensitivity and Exert Insulinotropic Actions" /. Agric. Food Chem.

2010;58(3):1551-1557.

EXAMPLE 12

Pre-Incubation with KRH alone or KRH with Glyceollin

To extend the study of EXAMPLE 11, and to test whether a glyceollin present during the 24- hour serum starvation would produce measurable effects, cells were serum-starved for 24 hours by replacing the Maintenance medium with either KRH alone, or KRH supplemented with 5 μΜ glyceollin. Following this serum-starvation protocol, cells were exposed to 0.3 nM insulin in KRB (a very low dose) for 30 minutes at 37°C, after which 10 μΕ of [³H]2- deoxyglucose in D- glucose was added. Glucose uptake was assayed as above. As shown in FIG. 12, in the absence of pre-incubation with glyceollin, 5 μΜ glyceollin alone stimulated glucose uptake to a greater degree than did 0.3 nM insulin (compare columns 2 and 3). This result is particularly surprising because it has been suggested that glyceollin does not stimulate glucose uptake without the presence of insulin. The experiment was repeated with a rapid pipetting technique and without 24-hour serum starvation, and the results are shown in FIG. 13. The results of Park et al. mirror those shown by comparison of columns 5 and 6 of FIG. 13, which was interpreted as demonstrating an increase in insulin sensitivity because glucose uptake was enhanced by addition of 5uM glyceollin (FIG. 13, column 5). Column 3 of FIG. 13, however, again demonstrates that 5 μΜ glyceollin stimulates glucose uptake to an even greater degree than 0.3 nM insulin alone (see col. 2); column 4 demonstrates the combined effects of insulin and glyceollin, which appear to be at least additive and may be synergistic (comparing to either col. 2 or 3). Glyceollin has been thought to require at least 16 to 24 hours to be effective, and the preincubation conditions of columns 5-8 of FIG. 13 (using serum- free medium) were designed to explore this supposition. However, comparison of columns 2 and 4 of FIG. 13 represent data from cells starved of serum for 24 hours and only then stimulated with either insulin (column 2) or glyceollin with insulin (column 4) for 30 minutes, and reveal the surprising finding that glyceollin is clearly effective at stimulating glucose uptake without pre-incubation.

EXAMPLE 13

Pre-incubation with KRH alone or KRH with Glycinol

To test whether glycinol (instead of glyceollin) present during the 24-hour serum starvation would produce measurable effects, cells were serum-starved for 24 hours by replacing the

Maintenance medium with either KRH alone, or KRH supplemented with 5 μΜ glycinol, and the experiments otherwise carried out as set forth for EXAMPLE 12. Glycinol is a much more potent estrogen agonist than the glyceollins; Park et al. characterize glyceollin as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and propose that glyceollin likely enhances glucose uptake via an estrogen agonist action. As shown in FIG. 14, however, glycinol is ineffective at stimulating glucose uptake and may in fact inhibit glucose uptake (compare columns 1 & 8). These data suggest that an estrogen-mediated pathway is not responsible for stimulating glucose uptake.

EXAMPLE 14

Pre-incubation with Different Glyceollins

To compare the glyceollin mixture (used above, for the prior EXAMPLES) against the individual glyceollins (Ί, II, and III) that make up that mixture, cells were pre-incubated for 24 hours with either the glyceollin mixure (glyceollins I, II, and III), glyceollin I, glyceollin II, or glyceollin III. As shown in FIG. 15, each of the glyceollins is effective at enhancing insulin- mediated glucose uptake, and it appears that glyceollins I and III are more effective than glyceollin II. The data of FIG. 16 confirm this finding, demonstrating that all three glyceollins enhance insulin-mediated glucose uptake. For the experiments shown in FIG. 16, 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes pre-incubated for 24 hours with KRH (serum-starved) were exposed for 30 minutes to 5 μΜ of glyceollin mixture or individual glyceollins, with insulin, or to glycinol in the absence of insulin. The columns of FIG. 16 are as follows: 1) DMSO control; 2) KRH control; 3) Glyceollin Mix (5 μΜ); 4) Glyceollin I (5 μΜ); 5) Glyceollin II (5 μΜ); 6) Glyceollin III (5 μΜ); 7) Glycinol (1 μΜ); 8) Glycinol (0.1 μΜ). Glyceollin I appears to stimulate glucose uptake better than glyceollins II and III; because the glyceollin mixture contains about 75% glyceollin I, it would be expected to have less activity than purified glyceollin I. Columns 7 and 8 indicate that glycinol does not present the same bioactivity as glyceollin, as demonstrated earlier. Finally, column 1 demonstrates that the DMSO vehicle does not have any effect on glucose uptake.

EXAMPLE 15

Glyceollins I & III Stimulate Glucose Uptake in the Absence of Insulin

Cells were pre-incubated (serum starved) for 24 hours in KRH, then exposed to glyceollins I or III in either the presence or absence of insulin. The data of FIG. 17 demonstrate that both glyceollins I and III can stimulate glucose uptake in the absence of insulin, but that glucose uptake is further enhanced after addition of insulin. The columns of FIG. 17 are as follows: 1) DMSO control; 2) 0.3 nM insulin; 3) Glyceollin I (5 μΜ); 4) 0.3 nM insulin + Glyceollin I (1 μΜ); 5) 0.3 nM insulin + Glyceollin I (5 μΜ); 6) Glyceollin III (5 μΜ); 7) Glyceollin I (1 μΜ); 8) 0.3 nM insulin + Glyceollin III (5 μΜ). Columns that differ from each other by p < 0.05 have differing superscript letters.

EXAMPLE 16

Response of 3T3-L1 Differentiated Adipocytes to Very Low Doses of Insulin

The experiments described for EXAMPLE 11 were repeated using lower concentrations of insulin. The dose-response curve of FIG. 18 shows the effects of very low insulin

concentrations on glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes.

EXAMPLE 17

Glucose Uptake After 19 Hours Pre-Incubation with Glyceollin Mixture

3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes were pre-incubated for 19 hours with either KRH or with the glyceollin mixture (glyceollins I, II, and III) at the concentrations indicated. Cells were then washed and challenged with insulin at the concentrations indicated, and the results are shown in FIG. 19. Column 2 demonstrates stimulation of glucose uptake by 0.2 nM insulin alone (compare columns 1 & 2). Columns 3, 4, and 5 indicate that 5 μΜ glyceollin is required to further stimulate glucose uptake {i.e., that 0.5 and 1.0 μΜ glyceollin concentrations are insufficient). Column 6 demonstrates a maximal insulin dose (1 nM), and bar 8 demonstrates that preincubation with glyceollin (5 μΜ) enhances glucose uptake even further. These data suggest are surprising because it has not been known that glyceollin can stimulate glucose uptake beyond that of a high insulin dose. These data also suggest that glyceollin does not enhance insulin sensitivity, but rather stimulates glucose uptake via an insulin-independent mechanism. The experiment was repeated with pre-incubation of only 3 hours (instead of 19 hours), and the data show that a 3 -hour pre-incubation with glyceollin mixture is sufficient to stimulate glucose uptake to a level above that achieved with insulin alone (FIG. 20).

EXAMPLE 18

Glucose Uptake After 45 Minutes Pre-incubation with Glyceollin Mixture

3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes were exposed to either RH for 45 minutes (see FIG. 21 , "o") as a control, or to a 5 μΜ glyceollin mixture (see FIG. 21, "·"), then challenged with different doses of insulin to generate a dose-response curve as described above (see, e.g., EXAMPLE 11); the results are presented in FIG. 21. Unlike the serum-starvation experiments above, this study did not involve removing serum for 24 hours; the purpose was to create an insulin-insensitive system to determine whether glyceollin would increase insulin sensitivity. The response observed when cells are pre-incubated with KRH is very much blunted and insulin-insensitive, as shown by the open circles (o) and compared to the insulin dose-response curves generated after an overnight medium switch (24-hour serum starvation; see FIG. 18). If glyceollin increases insulin sensitivity, as commonly supposed, then the insulin dose-response curve of FIG. 21 should be shifted to the left. It was not; glucose uptake increased significantly at all insulin challenge levels. This indicates that glyceollin must stimulate glucose uptake via a mechanism that is independent of insulin. Because insulin-mediated glucose uptake is mediated by the GLUT4 transporter, and since these cells have a GLUT 1 transporter (this is believed to be responsible for basal glucose uptake), it appears likely that glyceollin does not increase insulin sensitivity by altering GLUT 4 but rather increases basal glucose uptake via GLUT 1.

EXAMPLE 19 Glyceollin-Stimulated Glucose Uptake in the Absence of Insulin

3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes were pre-incubated (serum-starved) for 24 hours in KRH to starve the cells of glucose and insulin, as demonstrated earlier. This provides a very sensitive assay for glucose uptake. The cells were then incubated for 45 minutes with various concentrations of the glyceollin mixture, washed, and then incubated in KRH for an additional 30 minutes. As demonstrated in FIG. 22, glyceollin mixture alone stimulates basal glucose uptake in an insulin-independent manner.

All references cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as though each reference was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. The citation of any reference is for its disclosure prior to the filing date and should not be construed as an admission that the present disclosure is not entitled to antedate such reference by virtue of prior invention.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present disclosure that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this disclosure set forth in the appended claims. The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present disclosure is to be limited only by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin for modulating the expression of genes linked to adipocytokine signaling, carbohydrate metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, PPAR signaling, insulin signaling, lipid metabolism, extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction, or combinations thereof, in an animal.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said at least one isolated glyceollin is isolated from elicited soy, and is glyceollin I, glyceollin II, glyceollin III, or combinations thereof.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein said at least one isolated glyceollin is provided in an amount of from about 100 nM to about 50 μΜ.

4. The composition of claim 2, wherein said at least one isolated glyceollin is provided in an amount of from about 1 mg/kg/ animal to about 100 mg/kg/ animal.

5. The composition of claim 4, wherein said genes are upregulated, relative to an animal that has not been administered said composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin, and are selected from the group consisting of: ADIPOQ; DGAT2; GPDl; GYS1; LEP; LPIN1; LPL; PLIN; PPARG; and combinations thereof.

6. The composition of claim 4, wherein said genes are upregulated, relative to an animal that has not been administered said composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin, and are selected from the group consisting of: ACACB; ACAT 1; ACOXl;

AGP AT 2; AHSG; AKT1; AKT2; CAP1; CD36; CEBPB; CRK; DBI; EIF2B1;

EIF4EBP1; FBP1; FOS; GPDl; GPAM; HADH; HRAS1; ITGA7; LPL; MAP2K1; ORM1; PLIN; PRKAR2B; PTGDS; PTPN1; PTPN11; SORBS1; SREBF1; VEGFA; and combinations thereof.

7. The composition of claim 4, wherein said genes are downregulated, relative to an animal that has not been administered said composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin, and are selected from the group consisting of: AEBP1; ARAF; CBL;

CEBPA; CEBPD; CSN2; DOK2; DOK3; EIF4E; FRS3; G6PC; GCG; GCK; GPD2; GRB10; GRB2; GSK3B; IGF2; INS1; ITGA2; ITGA8; LDLR; NCK2; NOS2; NPY; OLR 1; PHIP; PIK3CA; PIK3R2; PPP1CA; PRKCI; PTPRF; RETN; SDC1; SHC3; SLC27A4; and combinations thereof.

8. A composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin for treating hyperlipidemia, obesity, excessive cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, diabetes, or combinations thereof, in an animal in need thereof.

9. The composition of claim 8, wherein said at least one isolated glyceollin is isolated from elicited soy, and is glyceollin I, glyceollin II, glyceollin III, or combinations thereof.

10. The composition of claim 9, wherein said at least one isolated glyceollin is provided in an amount of from about 100 nM to about 50 μΜ.

11. The composition of claim 9, wherein said at least one isolated glyceollin is provided in an amount of from about 1 mg/kg/ animal to about 100 mg/kg/ animal.

12. The composition of claim 11, for treating diabetes, wherein said composition increases the expression in said animal of genes selected from the group consisting of: ADIPOQ; DGAT2; GPD1; GYS1; LEP; LPIN1; LPL; PLIN; PPARG; and combinations thereof, relative to an animal that has not been administered said composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin.

13. The composition of claim 11, for treating diabetes, wherein said composition lowers total cholesterol (TC), lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, raises triglycerides (TG), or combinations thereof in said animal, relative to an animal that has not been administered said composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin.

14. The composition of claim 11, for treating obesity, wherein said composition increases the expression in said animal of genes selected from the group consisting of: ACACB; ACAT 1; ACOX1 ; AGP AT 2; AHSG; AKT1 ; AKT2; CAP1; CD36; CEBPB; CRK; DBI; EIF2B1; EIF4EBP1; FBP1; FOS; GPD1; GPAM; HADH; HRASl; ITGA7; LPL; MAP2K1; ORM1; PLIN; PRKAR2B; PTGDS; PTPN1; PTPN11; SORBS1; SREBF1; VEGFA; and combinations thereof, relative to an animal that has not been administered said composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin.

15. The composition of claim 11, for treating obesity, wherein said composition decreases the expression in said animal of genes selected from the group consisting of: AEBP1; ARAF; CBL; CEBPA; CEBPD; CSN2; DOK2; DOK3; EIF4E; FRS3; G6PC; GCG; GCK; GPD2; GRB10; GRB2; GSK3B; IGF2; INSl; ITGA2; ITGA8; LDLR; NCK2; NOS2; NPY; PHIP; PIK3CA; PIK3R2; PPP1CA; PTPRF; RETN; SDC1; SHC3;

SLC27A4; and combinations thereof, relative to an animal that has not been

administered said composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin.

16. A composition comprising at least one isolated glyceollin for stimulating glucose uptake in an animal in need thereof.

17. The composition of claim 16, wherein said at least one isolated glyceollin is isolated from elicited soy, and is glyceollin I, glyceollin II, glyceollin III, or combinations thereof.

18. The composition of claim 17, wherein said at least one isolated glyceollin is provided in an amount of from about 100 nM to about 50 μΜ.

19. The composition of claim 17, wherein said at least one isolated glyceollin is provided in an amount of from about 1 mg/kg/ animal to about 100 mg/kg/ animal.

20. The composition of claim 19, wherein said composition further comprises insulin, or wherein a further composition comprising insulin for stimulating glucose uptake in an animal in need thereof is also provided.