Kabushiki Kaisha Hayashibara Seibutsu Kagaku Kenkyujo

Hayashibara Co., Ltd.

Mutsuko Taniguchi

Masashi Kurimoto

Keizo Kohno

Toshio Kunikata

Haruki Okamura

Kakuji Torigoe

Tadao Tanimoto

Shigeharu Fukuda

Shimpei Ushio

Toshi Kunikata

Todao Tanimoto

Tatsuya Ishihara

Go Takikawa

Kiyomi Aizawa

[Object] The present invention aims to provide an external dermal agent that tightens the skin, lifts up sagging skin, has no stickiness to the skin, and has a satisfactory compatibility with the skin, without giving any unfavorable feeling to users. [Means to Attain the Object] The present invention solves the above object by providing an external dermal agent characterized in that it contains pullulan and an alkaline-swelling polymer in a mass ratio of the pullulan to the alkaline-swelling polymer being 10 or more.

External dermal agent

A protein which induces the IFN-&#x3b3; production by immunocompetent cells and has a molecular weight of 19,000&#xb1;5,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE or gel filtration method and a pI of 4.8&#xb1;1.0 on chromatofocusing. The protein is isolated from mouse liver and can be purified by a monoclonal antibody specific to it. The monoclonal antibody can be also used for assaying the protein.

IFN-&#x3b3; production inducing protein (IGIF, IL-18)

A monoclonal antibody which is specific to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 18,500&#xb1;3,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE and a pI of 4.9&#xb1;1.0 on chromatofocusing. The monoclonal antibody is obtainable from hybridomas and can be used for the purification and detection of the polypeptide. The polypeptide strongly induces the IFN-&#x3b3; production by immunocompetent cells with only a small amount, and dose not cause serious side effects even when administered to human in a relatively-high dose.

Method for detecting a polypeptide which induces interferon-&#x3b3;  production

A human IFN-&#x3b3; inducing polypeptide and its nucleotide sequence was isolated, purified and characterized. Pharmaceutical compositions containing this novel INF-&#x3b3; inducing polypeptide or active fragments thereof are formulated and monoclonal antibodies are raised against this polypeptide or antigenic fragments thereof. The polypeptide can be used in a method for treating diseases susceptive to treatment with INF-&#x3b3;, and methods for enhancing the cytotoxicity of NK cells or for inducing the formation of LAK cells, such as to treat tumors and malignant pathologies.

Interferon-&#x3b3; inducing polypeptide, pharmaceutical composition thereof, monoclonal antibody thereto, and methods of use

A human IFN-&#x3b3; inducing polypeptide and its nucleotide sequence was isolated, purified and characterized. Pharmaceutical compositions containing this novel IFN-&#x3b3; inducing polypeptide or active fragments thereof are formulated and monoclonal antibodies are raised against this polypeptide or antigenic fragments thereof. The polypeptide can be used in a method for treating diseases susceptive to treatment with IFN-&#x3b3;, and methods for enhancing the cytotoxicity of NK cells or for inducing the formation of LAK cells, such as to treat tumors and malignant pathologies.

A monoclonal antibody which is specific to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 18,500&plusmn;3,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE and a pI of 4.9&plusmn;1.0 on chromatofocusing. The monoclonal antibody is obtainable from hybridomas and can be used for the purification and detection of the polypeptide. The polypeptide strongly induces the IFN-&ggr; production by immunocompetent cells with only a small amount, and dose not cause serious side effects even when administered to human in a relatively-high dose.

Monoclonal antibody specific to polypeptide which induces interferon-G&ggr; production

A protein which induces the IFN-&ggr; production by immunocompetent cells and has a molecular weight of 19,000&plusmn;5,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE or gel filtration method and a pI of 4.8&plusmn;1.0 on chromatofocusing. The protein is isolated from mouse liver and can be purified by a monoclonal antibody specific to it. The monoclonal antibody can be also used for assaying the protein. Fragments of the protein can be used for production of antibodies, and can be produced recombinantly using appropriate medric acids, host cells and vectors. Fragments of nuclear acids may also be used as probes.

DNA molecule encoding interferon-gamma (IFN-&lgr;) inducing factor (IGIF, IL-18) and DNA fragment thereof

A protein which induces the IFN-&ggr; production by immunocompetent cells and has a molecular weight of 19,000&plusmn;5,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE or gel filtration method and a pI of 4.8&plusmn;1.0 on chromatofocusing. The protein is isolated from mouse liver and can be purified by a monoclonal antibody specific to it. The monoclonal antibody can be also used for assaying the protein.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-&ggr;) inducing factor (IGIF, IL-18) and peptide fragment thereof

Process for purifying a polypeptide

A monoclonal antibody which is specific to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 18, 500&plusmn;3,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE and a pI of 4.9&plusmn;1.0 on chromatofocusing. The monoclonal antibody is obtainable from hybridomas and can be used for the purification and detection of the polypeptide. The polypeptide strongly induces the IFN-&ggr; production by immunocompetent cells with only a small amount, and does not cause serious side effects even when administered to human in a relatively-high dose.

Monoclonal antibody specific to polypeptide which induces interferon-gamma production

DNA encoding a murine protein capable of inducing the production of interferon-.gamma. by immunocompetent cells is described. The native protein from mouse liver has a molecular weight of 19.+-.5 kDa, a pI of 4.8.+-.1.0, and the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2. Methods for producing the protein in recombinant expression systems including E. coli are provided.

Recombinant production of murine interferon--.gamma. (IFN-.gamma.)

A protein which induces IFN-.gamma. production by immunocompetent cells and has a molecular weight of 19,000.+-.5,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE or gel filtration and a pI of 4.8.+-.1.0 on chromatofocusing. The protein is isolated from mouse liver and can be purified by a monoclonal antibody specific to it. The monoclonal antibody can be also used for assaying the protein.

Growing community of inventors

Okayama, Japan

Mutsuko Taniguchi