Abstract: Using betaKlotho or a substance that increases or inhibits betaKlotho activity as an agent for controlling the activity of FGF21 mediated by an FGF receptor, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising such betaKlotho or such substance as an active ingredient, particularly, a pharmaceutical composition for anti-metabolic syndrome, and further particularly, a pharmaceutical composition for therapeutic or preventive use associated with the control of blood glucose level. In addition, the present invention provides a screening system for each of a substance that enhances or suppresses betaKlotho activity, an FGF21-like active substance, and a betaKlotho-like active substance, which uses a cell system that has expressed an FGF receptor and/or betaKlotho on the surface thereof.

Abstract: A hair removing agent or a hair growth inhibiting agent is provided by determining an endogenous factor having a hair growth inhibitory activity, screening for substances having an activity similar to that of the endogenous factor or substances enhancing the activity or expression of the endogenous factor, and utilizing the physiological activities of such substances. It has been found that FGF18 inhibits hair growth. A method of screening for FGF18-like active substances, substances that promote the activity of FGF18 or substances that promote the expression of FGF18 to thereby obtain candidates for the hair growth inhibiting agent or hair removing agent is disclosed. Also disclosed is a hair growth inhibiting agent or a hair removing agent comprising, as an active ingredient, FGF18 and/or an FGF18 partial peptide, or an FGF18-like active substance and/or a substance that promotes the activity or expression of FGF18 (e.g., Digenea simplex extract).

Abstract: There is provided an FGF2 substitute-containing medicinal composition which comprises, as an active ingredient, a chimeric protein comprising the amino acid sequence of an FGF1 protein in which a partial sequence including a sequence of at least positions 62-83 within a sequence of positions 41-83 is substituted with a partial sequence at the corresponding positions in the amino acid sequence of an FGF2 protein; and the remaining region is formed of the amino acid sequence of FGF1. In particular, this medicinal composition is used for wound healing and for the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced damage, and it exhibits a pharmacological action superior to that of an FGF2 medicinal composition, and further, it can be easily formulated into a preparation.

Abstract: There is provided an FGF2 substitute containing medicinal composition which comprises, as an active ingredient, a chimeric protein comprising the amino acid sequence of an FGF1 protein in which a partial sequence including a sequence of at least positions 62-83 within a sequence of positions 41-83 is substituted with a partial sequence at the corresponding positions in the amino acid sequence of an FGF2 protein; and the remaining region is formed of the amino acid sequence of FGF1. In particular, this medicinal composition is used for wound healing and for the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced damage, and it exhibits a pharmacological action superior to that of an FGF2 medicinal composition, and further, it can be easily formulated into a preparation.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a hair growth promoting agent, hair regrowth promoting agent or therapeutic for alopecia by determining an endogenous factor that inhibits hair growth and screening for substances that inhibit the activity or expression of the endogenous factor. It has been found that FGF18 inhibits hair growth. A method of screening for substances that inhibit the activity of FGF18 or substances that inhibit the expression of FGF18 to thereby obtain candidates for the hair growth promoting agent, hair regrowth promoting agent or therapeutic for alopecia is disclosed. Also disclosed is a hair growth promoting agent, hair regrowth promoting agent or therapeutic for alopecia comprising, as an active ingredient(s), a substance that inhibit the activity of FGF18 and/or a substance that inhibits the expression of FGF18 such as a partial peptide of FGF18 or a Momordica charantia hot water extract.

Abstract: Using betaKlotho or a substance that increases or inhibits betaKlotho activity as an agent for controlling the activity of FGF21 mediated by an FGF receptor, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising such betaKlotho or such substance as an active ingredient, particularly, a pharmaceutical composition for anti-metabolic syndrome, and further particularly, a pharmaceutical composition for therapeutic or preventive use associated with the control of blood glucose level. In addition, the present invention provides a screening system for each of a substance that enhances or suppresses betaKlotho activity, an FGF21-like active substance, and a betaKlotho-like active substance, which uses a cell system that has expressed an FGF receptor and/or betaKlotho on the surface thereof.

Abstract: A hair removing agent or a hair growth inhibiting agent is provided by determining an endogenous factor having a hair growth inhibitory activity, screening for substances having an activity similar to that of the endogenous factor or substances enhancing the activity or expression of the endogenous factor, and utilizing the physiological activities of such substances. It has been found that FGF18 inhibits hair growth. A method of screening for FGF18-like active substances, substances that promote the activity of FGF18 or substances that promote the expression of FGF18 to thereby obtain candidates for the hair growth inhibiting agent or hair removing agent is disclosed. Also disclosed is a hair growth inhibiting agent or a hair removing agent comprising, as an active ingredient, FGF18 and/or an FGF18 partial peptide, or an FGF18-like active substance and/or a substance that promotes the activity or expression of FGF18 (e.g., Digenea simplex extract).

Abstract: It is intended to elucidate the effect of promoting hair follicle growth and to provide the following therapeutic agents for hair-related problems (1) to (3): (1) a hair growth promoting agent, comprising as an active ingredient an expression vector incorporating a full-length FGF-18, a partial peptide thereof, or a cDNA encoding the full-length FGF-18 or the partial peptide; (2) a hair regrowth promoting agent, comprising as an active ingredient an expression vector incorporating a full-length FGF-18, a partial peptide thereof, or a cDNA encoding the full-length FGF-18 or the partial peptide; and (3) a therapeutic agent for alopecia, comprising as an active ingredient an expression vector incorporating a full-length FGF-18, a partial peptide thereof, or a cDNA encoding the full-length FGF-18 or the partial peptide.

Abstract: It is intended to elucidate the effect of promoting hair follicle growth and to provide the following therapeutic agents for hair-related problems (1) to (3): (1) a hair growth promoting agent, comprising as an active ingredient an expression vector incorporating a full-length FGF-18, a partial peptide thereof, or a cDNA encoding the full-length FGF-18 or the partial peptide; (2) a hair regrowth promoting agent, comprising as an active ingredient an expression vector incorporating a full-length FGF-18, a partial peptide thereof, or a cDNA encoding the full-length FGF-18 or the partial peptide; and (3) a therapeutic agent for alopecia, comprising as an active ingredient an expression vector incorporating a full-length FGF-18, a partial peptide thereof, or a cDNA encoding the full-length FGF-18 or the partial peptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising, as an active ingredient, a peptide represented by the following formula (I): MTS-X-NLS  (I) wherein MTS represents a membrane-transfer amino acid sequence; X represents a direct bond or a linker sequence; and NLS represents a nuclear localization amino acid sequence, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, particularly, a pharmaceutical composition having food and water intake inhibitory effects, and accompanying weight-reducing and obesity-inhibiting effects.