Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-FSTL1 antibody or a fragment or functional equivalent thereof, wherein the antibody recognizes an epitope in a region selected from the group consisting of amino acid positions 48 to 100, 148 to 162, 193 to 216, 205 to 228, and 272 to 289 of SEQ ID NO: 1 (amino acid sequence of human FSTL1). The present invention also provides a combination product of a FSTL1 suppressor and additional cancer treatment. It is understood that immune defect such as immunosuppression or immunodeficiency is effectively mitigated by the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-FSTL1 antibody or a fragment or functional equivalent thereof, wherein the antibody recognizes an epitope in a region selected from the group consisting of amino acid positions 48 to 100, 148 to 162, 193 to 216, 205 to 228, and 272 to 289 of SEQ ID NO: 1 (amino acid sequence of human FSTL1). The present invention also provides a combination product of a FSTL1 suppressor and additional cancer treatment. It is understood that immune defect such as immunosuppression or immunodeficiency is effectively mitigated by the present invention.

Abstract: The invention features methods for inhibiting enhancement of expression of a FoxP3 gene in a cell, methods for inhibiting induction of differentiation of a cell into a regulatory T cell, methods for reducing immunosuppression, methods for stimulating tumor immunity, and methods for treating a patient with a tumor. The methods of the invention involve suppressing function of an FSTL1 protein in the cell. In the methods of the invention, function of an FSTL1 protein in the cell may be suppressed using an anti-FSTL1 antibody.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to provide a cancer vaccine used for preventing and treating cancers. Provided are a peptide consisting of a sequence of SEQ ID No. 1 (KMHIRSHTL) or SEQ ID No. 2 (RTFSRMSLL) and capable of efficiently inducing cancer immunity, an antigen-presenting cell presenting this peptide on its cell surface, a T cell induced by this antigen-presenting cell as well as a cancer vaccine containing these peptides, an expression vector capable of expressing either of these peptides, the antigen-presenting cell presenting either of these peptides or the T cell induced by the antigen-presenting cell, and a method of treating and preventing cancers using the cancer vaccine.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide methods for diagnosing and/or treating tumors using HERV-H env gene or HERV-H env Env protein. Specifically, tumors are diagnosed by detecting expression of HERV-H env gene; and agents for detecting the expression are used as diagnosing agents. Further, tumors are treated by inhibiting function of HERV-H env gene; and agents for inhibiting the function are used as antitumor agents. Furthermore, tumors are treated by administering a peptide having a certain sequence of HERV-H Env protein and the like; and the peptide is used as a cancer vaccine.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide methods for diagnosing and/or treating tumors using HERV-H env gene or HERV-H env protein. Specifically, tumors are diagnosed by detecting expression of HERV-H env gene; and agents for detecting the expression are used as diagnosing agents. Further, tumors are treated by inhibiting function of HERV-H env gene; and agents for inhibiting the function are used as antitumor agents. Furthermore, tumors are treated by administering a peptide having a certain sequence of HERV-H env protein and the like; and the peptide is used as a cancer vaccine.

Abstract: In order to provide a gene expression enhancer for enhancing expression of FoxP3 gene in a cell; a cell differentiation inducer for inducing differentiation of a cell into a regulatory T cell; an immunosuppressor for suppressing immunity and an agent for treating hyperimmune diseases based on the abovementioned actions; an inhibitor of enhancement of gene expression for inhibiting enhancement of expression of FoxP3 gene in a cell; an inhibitor of induction of cell differentiation for inhibiting induction of differentiation of a cell into a regulatory T cell; a reducer of immunosuppression for reducing immunosuppression, a stimulator of tumor immunity and an antitumor agent based on the abovementioned actions; and the like, for example, an agent containing at least one of a cell expressing Snail protein, MCP1 protein, FSTL1 protein, membrane IL-13Ra2 protein or secretory IL-13Ra2 protein, or MCP1 protein, FSTL1 protein or secretory IL-13Ra2 protein, is used as a gene expression enhancer for FoxP3, an inducer o