Immuno-biological Laboratories Co., Ltd.

Other

University of California

Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Hiroko Kobayashi

Tsutomu Seito

Masahiro Hasegawa

Eyal Raz

Yukio Sato

The purpose of the invention is to provide an antibody which recognizes OPN N-half but does not recognize the full-length OPN, and its use. A monoclonal antibody which is characterized in that it recognizes a protein or polypeptide in which the C-terminal amino acid sequence is YGLR (SEQ ID NO: 1) and it substantially does not recognize a protein or polypeptide which has an amino acid sequence of YGLR outside of the C-terminal, as well as a method for measuring OPN N-half utilizing the said antibody, a method for diagnosing diseases relating to OPN N-half, a method for judging the severity of said disease, and a method for treating said diseases, are provided.

Monoclonal antibody and use thereof

It is an object of the present invention to provide a polynucleotide, which can effectively suppress the immunoreactivity caused by DNA having a CpG motif and which can be used for preventing and/or treating immune-mediated diseases such as arthritis. The present invention provides a polynucleotide comprising a CpG motif wherein guanine is methylated, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the above-mentioned polynucleotide.

Methylated CpG polynucleotide

Disclosed is a method for enhancing an immune response to a substance, such as an antigen or microbial pathogen. The immune response can be, for example, production of IgG2 antibodies. The method comprises administering an immunostimulatory nucleotide sequence (ISS) to a subject at least one hour prior to exposure to the substance by the subject. The subject may be exposed to the substance either naturally, as with an environmental pathogen, or by administration, as with a known antigen. The method can be used for protecting or immunizing a subject against an antigen or pathogen, providing more effective immunization than if the ISS were co-administered with the substance. The method can be used prophylactically or therapeutically. In preferred embodiments, the ISS comprises a CG, p(GC) or p(IC) DNA or RNA nucleotide sequence. Of these, a CG containing nucleotide sequence is preferred. The ISS can further comprise a pG nucleotide sequence. Examples of an ISS include sequences comprising 5&prime;-rrcgyy-3&prime;, 5&prime;-rycgyy-3&prime;, 5&prime;-rrcgyycg-3&prime; or 5&prime;-rycgyycg-3&prime;. The ISS is preferably administered between about 6 hours and about 6 weeks prior to exposure to the substance, and more preferably between about 1 day and about 4 weeks prior. Most preferably, the ISS is administered between about 3 days and about 8 days prior to exposure to the substance. The ISS can be administered via a mucosal or systemic route. The substance can be an antigen or pathogen associated with an infectious disease, an allergen or a cancer.

Method for enhancing an immune response

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Fukushima, Japan

Hiroko Kobayashi