Extracellular CES2 Proteins for the Treatment of Metabolic Disease

Stanford researchers have identified exercise-inducible, carboxylesterase 2 (CES2) proteins, which suppress obesity in high fat diet-fed mouse models. Generally, CES2 proteins are intracellular and localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. But Stanford researchers have engineered soluble (e.g., extracellular) CES2 proteins. These soluble CES2 proteins exhibit complete extracellular localization and anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects when overexpressed in mice. These recombinant CES2 proteins can be used as biological therapeutics for obese individuals.

Stage of Development
Proof of concept: in vivo studies in mouse successfully completed