Abstract: Provided is a method for simply obtaining a desired size fraction from an aqueous sample containing particles. The method includes the following steps: (1) bringing the aqueous sample containing particles into contact with a superabsorbent polymer to obtain a superabsorbent polymer gel containing a portion of the particles, and (2) mixing the superabsorbent polymer gel with a salt to recover a portion of the particles.

Abstract: A novel tissue usable for a kidney tissue model is provided. A method for producing a kidney-like tissue includes co-culturing a cell group containing mesenchymal stem cells, vascular endothelial cells, and clonal embryonic kidney cells.

Abstract: A novel tissue usable for a kidney tissue model is provided. A method for producing a kidney-like tissue includes co-culturing a cell group containing mesenchymal stem cells, vascular endothelial cells, and clonal embryonic kidney cells.

Abstract: A method of detecting proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising measuring the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1, phosphorylated Smad1, activin receptor-like kinase 1, activin receptor-like kinase 3 and bone morphogenetic proteins in a biological sample. A kit therefor. A prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising as an active ingredient a substance having an inhibitory effect on the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1 and phosphorylated Smad1. A method of identifying substances effective in preventing and/or treating proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising judging whether or not a test substance inhibits the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1 and phosphorylated Smad1. A kit therefor.

Abstract: A method of detecting proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising measuring the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1, phosphorylated Smad1, activin receptor-like kinase 1, activin receptor-like kinase 3 and bone morphogenetic proteins in a biological sample. A kit therefor. A prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising as an active ingredient a substance having an inhibitory effect on the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1 and phosphorylated Smad1. A method of identifying substances effective in preventing and/or treating proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising judging whether or not a test substance inhibits the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1 and phosphorylated Smad1. A kit therefor.

Abstract: When an anti-human BMP antibody was added to cells of an immortalized human mesangial cell line cultured in the presence of human BMP, the anti-human BMP antibody significantly suppressed the production of type IV collagen in mesangial cells. A number of signaling pathways are involved in abnormal proliferation of type IV collagen. It was therefore completely unpredictable whether merely blocking the BMP signal would indeed suppress the abnormal proliferation of type IV collagen. However, for the first time, the present inventors demonstrated that anti-BMP antibodies are very effective in suppressing the abnormal proliferation of type IV collagen. Thus, anti-BMP antibodies can be used as novel therapeutic agents for kidney diseases associated with abnormal proliferation of the mesangial matrix.

Abstract: A method of detecting proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising measuring the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1, phosphorylated Smad1, activin receptor-like kinase 1, activin receptor-like kinase 3 and bone morphogenetic proteins in a biological sample. A kit therefor. A prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising as an active ingredient a substance having an inhibitory effect on the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1 and phosphorylated Smad1. A method of identifying substances effective in preventing and/or treating proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising judging whether or not a test substance inhibits the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1 and phosphorylated Smad1. A kit therefor.

Abstract: A method of detecting proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising measuring the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1, phosphorylated Smad1, activin receptor-like kinase 1, activin receptor-like kinase 3 and bone morphogenetic proteins in a biological sample. A kit therefor. A prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising as an active ingredient a substance having an inhibitory effect on the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1 and phosphorylated Smad1. A method of identifying substances effective in preventing and/or treating proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising judging whether or not a test substance inhibits the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1 and phosphorylated Smad1. A kit therefor.

Abstract: A method of detecting proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising measuring the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1, phosphorylated Smad1, activin receptor-like kinase 1, activin receptor-like kinase 3 and bone morphogenetic proteins in a biological sample. A kit therefor. A prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising as an active ingredient a substance having an inhibitory effect on the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1 and phosphorylated Smad1. A method of identifying substances effective in preventing and/or treating proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising judging whether or not a test substance inhibits the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1 and phosphorylated Smad1. A kit therefor.

Abstract: When an anti-human BMP antibody was added to cells of an immortalized human mesangial cell line cultured in the presence of human BMP, the anti-human BMP antibody significantly suppressed the production of type IV collagen in mesangial cells. A number of signaling pathways are involved in abnormal proliferation of type IV collagen. It was therefore completely unpredictable whether merely blocking the BMP signal would indeed suppress the abnormal proliferation of type IV collagen. However, for the first time, the present inventors demonstrated that anti-BMP antibodies are very effective in suppressing the abnormal proliferation of type IV collagen. Thus, anti-BMP antibodies can be used as novel therapeutic agents for kidney diseases associated with abnormal proliferation of the mesangial matrix.

Abstract: A method of detecting proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising measuring the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1, phosphorylated Smad1, activin receptor-like kinase 1, activin receptor-like kinase 3 and bone morphogenetic proteins in a biological sample. A kit therefor. A prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising as an active ingredient a substance having an inhibitory effect on the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1 and phosphorylated Smad1. A method of identifying substances effective in preventing and/or treating proliferative diseases causing sclerosis, comprising judging whether or not a test substance inhibits the expression of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, Smad1 and phosphorylated Smad1. A kit therefor.