Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide aqueous preparations comprising eMIP, a derivative of macrophage inflammatory protein 1? (MIP-1?) which has an immunopotentiation activity, and stabilizer(s). The present inventors conducted dedicated studies to achieve the above-described objective. As a result, the present inventors discovered that eMIP degradation is suppressed by addition of at least one or more additives selected from sodium chloride, L-histidine, L-arginine, L-arginine hydrochloride, L-lysine hydrochloride, citric acid, and sodium edetate (EDTA). Furthermore, the present inventors demonstrated that phosphate buffer of pH 5 to pH 7 is a preferable pH adjuster for the aqueous eMIP preparations of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement in an apparatus for detecting chemotaxis of cells. It aims at providing a structure for detecting chemotaxis of cells at an elevated accuracy with the use of a microquantity of cells. That is to say, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for detecting chemotaxis of cells by which cell injection and position control can be easily carried out while ensuring the prevention of unexpected migration of the cells definitely positioned in a well or the injected sample so that a stable concentration gradient due to the diffusion of the specimen can be maintained and which ensures further automated operation and controlling.

Abstract: Concerning intracellular signal transduction mechanism, there has been drawn a novel hypothesis that, even in the case where phosphorylation does not occur in the intracellular C-terminal domain of a receptor, an unknown molecule associates with the Pro-C terminal domain of a G protein-coupled receptor for each chemokine and thus leukocyte chemotaxis depending on the receptor is controlled. To examine this hypothesis and clarify therapeutic targets in inflammatory diseases as well as other various diseases, attempts are made to search for a CCR2-binding protein. As a result, a novel cytoplasmic protein associating directly and specifically with the Pro-12-C-terminal domain of CCR2 is found out and it is clarified that this protein forms clusters with CCR2 after stimulation with CCL2. Thus, it is confirmed that there is a novel signal transduction system in the G protein relating signal transduction in the CCL2-CCR2 pathway.

Abstract: [Objective] An object is to provide an analyte testing/observing apparatus which can prevent evaporation and drying of an analyte and a reagent accommodated, before being dispensed, in a plurality of wells formed in microplates, to thereby stabilize the reaction between the analyte and the reagent and improve the accuracy of analyte test, and which can reduce the required space. [Means for solution] An analyte testing/observing apparatus includes a microplate mounting stand 10 which supports at least one microplate among a microplate 27 having a plurality of wells 27a for accommodating an analyte and microplates 28 each having a plurality of wells 28a for accommodating a reagent, and which includes a retractable shutter 20 for covering a surface of the at least one microplate mounted on the mounting stand 10.

Abstract: Satisfactory effects have not always been attained by immunotherapy having been tried, and reliance upon direct attack on cells by anticancer agents, radiation, etc has been inevitable. The present invention intends to provide a therapeutic method that ensures less side effects but higher efficacy than in conventional therapeutic methods through enhancing of immune strength inherently had by living organism. Thus, the present invention relates to an immunopotentiating agent comprising MIP-1? or its functional derivative as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A method of using a microsample treatment apparatus and an apparatus for detecting chemotaxis of cells and separating chemotactic cells includes a number of wells that are connected to each other via a part having resistance to fluids. The wells are each provided with tubes for injecting/sucking a sample and, if necessary, tubes for relieving pressure changes at the injection/suction. The tubes have a space in common at the top ends thereof in which a liquid can be held.

Abstract: There is provided cell observation apparatus (10) comprising cell observation chamber (30) and optical observation means (70), the cell observation chamber (30) having, disposed thereinside, a pair of wells and a channel through which the wells communicate with each other so that cells of a cell suspension stocked in one of the pair of wells can react with a chemotaxis-factor-containing solution stocked in the other well and can move from the one well to the other well through the channel, the optical observation means (70) capable of optically observing the cells moving through the channel from outside of the cell observation chamber (30), wherein the cell observation chamber (30) with its part exposed from casing (20) is housed in the casing (20) and wherein the optical observation means (70) is housed in the casing (20) so that the optical axis thereof horizontally extends allow in the cell observation chamber (30).

Abstract: A biological cell observing chamber (30), wherein an intermediate support body (32) forming a skeleton outer shell structural part is mounted on a bottom support body (31) and a cover block body (33) is mounted on the bottom support body (31) on which the intermediate support body (32) is mounted by using lever mechanisms (36) and (37) incorporating a cam mechanism and a clamp mechanism so that the contact faces thereof can be pressed against each other in the vertical direction. The cam mechanism comprises cam grooves (36b) and (37b) formed in both leg part inner surfaces of U-shaped levers (36) and (37) rotatably supported on the bottom support body (31) and pins (40) and (41) slidably moving in the cam grooves and built in the outer peripheral surfaces of the intermediate support body (32) and the cover block body (33) at corresponding two points.