Kabushiki Kaisha Hayashibara Seibutsu Kagaku Kenkyujo

Toshio Kunikata

Masashi Kurimoto

Keizo Kohno

Mutsuko Taniguchi

Kakuji Torigoe

Haruki Okamura

Shimpei Ushio

Shigeharu Fukuda

Tadao Tanimoto

Todao Tanimoto

Hajime Aga

Shigeyuki Arai

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

Disclosed are a receptor protein which recognize a novel cytokine, i.e., interleukin-18, a monoclonal antibody specific to the protein, and uses thereof. The receptor protein is useful as pharmaceutical to treat and prevent autoimmune and allergic disease because it suppresses and regulates excessive immunoreaction. The monoclonal antibody specifically reacts with interleukin-18, exhibiting efficacy in purification, detection and inhibition of interleukin-18.

Interleukin-18-receptor proteins

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.

Disclosed are a receptor protein which recognize a novel cytokine, i.e., interleukin-18, a monoclonal antibody specific to the protein, and uses thereof. The receptor protein is useful as pharmaceutical to treat and prevent autoimmune and allergic disease because it suppresses and regulates excessive immunoreaction. The monoclonal antibody specifically reacts with interleukin-18 receptor, exhibiting efficacy in purification, detection and inhibition of interleukin-18 receptor.

Monoclonal antibody for human IL-18 receptor

A physiologically active extract comprising an ethyl acetate-soluble ingredient of an indigo plant, which is obtainable by soaking a raw indigo plant in an organic solvent used for extraction. The ethyl acetate-soluble ingredient includes tryptanthrin, 3,5,4&prime;-trihydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxy-flavone, kaempferol, 3,5,7,4&prime;-tetrahydroxy-6-methoxy-flavone, gallic acid, caffeic acid, indirubin, pheophorbide a, and methylpheophorbide a.

Physiologically active extract obtained from indigo plant polygonum tinctorium

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.

Growing community of inventors

Okayama, Japan

Toshio Kunikata