Abstract: A novel antibody that can be used as an anti-tumor agent and an anti-tumor agent that comprises, as an active ingredient, a molecule containing such an antibody.

Abstract: An object is to provide a PRAM-binding molecule. This object is achieved by a PRAM-binding molecule comprising a heavy-chain variable region containing a heavy-chain CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, a heavy-chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, and a heavy-chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 3, and/or a light-chain variable region containing a light-chain CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 9, a light-chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 10, and a light-chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 11.

Abstract: An antibody that can be used as an anti-tumor agent and an anti-tumor agent comprises a molecule containing such an antibody. Such an antibody or a binding fragment thereof comprises: a heavy chain CDRH1 consisting of SEQ ID NO: 54, a heavy chain CDRH2 consisting of SEQ ID NO: 55, a heavy chain CDRH3 consisting of SEQ ID NO: 56, a light chain CDRL1 consisting of SEQ ID NO: 57 or a light chain CDRL1 consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from SEQ ID NO: 57 in which amino acid 7 is W and/or amino acid 8 is K, a light chain CDRL2 consisting of SEQ ID NO: 58, and a light chain CDRL3 consisting of SEQ ID NO: 59 or a light chain CDRL3 consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from SEQ ID NO: 59 in which amino acid 2 is A or S.

Abstract: A novel antibody that can be used as an anti-tumor agent and an anti-tumor agent that comprises, as an active ingredient, a molecule containing such an antibody.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for preparing exosomes using: (i) a step for ultrafiltering a sample containing at least one exosome; and (ii) a step for subjecting the sample that can be obtained from step (i) to anion exchange column chromatography.

Abstract: An antigen-loaded nanogel is formed by loading or encapsulating one or more long peptide antigens or one or more protein antigens in a hydrophobized polysaccharide. The long peptide antigen(s) or protein antigen(s) contains (or each contain) one or more CD8+ cytotoxic T cell recognition epitopes and/or one or more CD4+ helper T cell recognition epitopes, which is/are derived from the antigen. The antigen-loaded nanogel is administered at least one day prior to administration of antigen-specific T cells to improve the efficacy of a T cell infusion therapy against an immune checkpoint inhibitor-resistant tumor. The hydrophobized polysaccharide may be pullulan having cholesteryl groups bound thereto. An immune-enhancing agent also may be administered in or with the antigen-loaded nanogel.

Abstract: CAR-T cells for cancer therapy are provided with an antibody that recognizes the MAGE-A4-derived-peptide/HLA-A2 complex. The antibody includes the VH amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 36 and the VL amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 38. The antibody preferably is provided with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32. Such CAR-T cells can be used in CAR infusion therapy in which a cancer-specific intracellular antigen is used.

Abstract: Provided is a cancer treatment or prevention technique that molecularly targets GD2. A GD2-binding molecule includes a heavy-chain variable region containing a heavy-chain CDR1 containing the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, a heavy-chain CDR2 containing the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, and a heavy-chain CDR3 containing the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 3, and/or a light-chain variable region containing a light-chain CDR1 containing the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 9, a light-chain CDR2 containing the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 10, and a light-chain CDR3 containing the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 11.

Abstract: A novel antigen receptor is provided. An antigen receptor contains a GITRL domain at a position closer to the C-terminus via a self-cleaving peptide domain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vaccine formulation for use in the prevention and/or treatment of a cancer, comprising a complex of a hyaluronic acid derivative having an introduced hydrophobic group, and an antigen.

Abstract: A long-chain peptide antigen includes a plurality of epitopes. An interepitope sequence located between two of the plurality of epitopes contains four to ten consecutive tyrosines, threonines, alanines, histidines, glutamines, or asparagines. The killer T-cell recognition epitopes form complexes with MHC class I molecules and are recognized by CD8+ killer T-cells when the complexes are presented on the surfaces of antigen-presenting cells. The helper T-cell recognition epitopes form complexes with MHC class II molecules and are recognized by CD4+ helper T-cells when the complexes are presented on the surfaces of antigen-presenting cells. The peptide is cleaved within the first interepitope sequence upon uptake of the peptide into antigen-presenting cells. The long-chain peptide antigen may be administered to a patient together with a hydrophobized polysaccharide, such as cholesterol-modified pullulan, and/or an adjuvant, such as CpG oligo DNA.

Abstract: To provide an agent for overcoming immunosuppression which can overcome immunosuppression by regulatory T cells. An agent for overcoming immunosuppression and an inhibitor of FOXP3 function containing an anthracycline antibiotic as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A long-chain peptide antigen includes a plurality of epitopes. An interepitope sequence located between two of the plurality of epitopes contains four to ten consecutive tyrosines. The long-chain peptide antigen may be administered to a patient together with a hydrophobized polysaccharide, such as cholesterol-modified pullulan, and/or an adjuvant, such as CpG oligo DNA.

Abstract: Therapeutic agents effective for treating cell-proliferative diseases contain extracellular vesicles (exosomes) released from cytotoxic T cells or miRNA obtained from extracellular vesicles (exosomes) released from cytotoxic T cells, such as human CD8+ T cells. Such therapeutic agents suppress the proliferation of mesenchymal cells surrounding cancer cells, e.g., by killing the mesenchymal cells, such that the cancer cells become isolated and unable to metastasize. Cell-proliferative diseases are thus treatable by administering such a therapeutic agent to a patient.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a method for preparing exosomes comprising: (i) a step for ultrafiltering a sample containing at least one exosome; and (ii) a step for subjecting the sample that can be obtained from step (i) to anion exchange column chromatography.

Abstract: A needleless injector which can selectively induce the immune response and a method for introducing DNA including a region coding for an antigen to selectively produce an antibody in a living body of a mammal by using the needleless injector are provided. Disclosed is a needleless injector for injecting a DNA solution into an injection target area without using any injection needles. The needleless injector includes an accommodating unit which accommodates the DNA solution, a predetermined ignition device; and a predetermined nozzle unit. A temperature of the predetermined combustion product, which is provided during the pressurization, changes to a neighborhood of ordinary temperature within 20 msec after a pressure, which is applied to the DNA solution on account of the combustion of the igniter powder, reaches an initial peak discharge force during a pressurization process for discharging the DNA solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for efficiently producing highly pure ??T cells introduced with foreign genes by culturing in the presence of IL-7 and IL-15 after stimulating the ??T cells with a bisphosphonic acid ester derivative. When a T cell receptor (TCR) or a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is introduced as a foreign gene, ??T cells in which TCR and CAR are functionally expressed can be obtained.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for preventing or treating HTLV-1-associated diseases, such as ATL, a material for use in the technique, a method for screening the material, and the like. The present invention provides a TCR screening method comprising sorting HTLV-1-derived antigen-recognizing cells from cells derived from an HTVL-1 patient and subjecting the HTLV-1-derived antigen-recognizing cells to TCR repertoire analysis, ranking the TCR types in descending order of the number of cells of each TCR type, and selecting a highly ranked TCR. The present invention provides a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for an HTLV-1-associated disease, the agent comprising a TCR comprising specific CDRs that can be obtained by the TCR screening method and cells expressing the TCR.

Abstract: CAR-T cells for cancer therapy are provided with an antibody that recognizes the MAGE-A4-derived-peptide/HLA-A2 complex. The antibody includes the VH amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 36 and the VL amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 38. The antibody preferably is provided with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32. Such CAR-T cells can be used in CAR infusion therapy in which a cancer-specific intracellular antigen is used.

Abstract: An antigen-loaded nanogel is formed by loading or encapsulating one or more long peptide antigens or one or more protein antigens in a hydrophobized polysaccharide. The long peptide antigen(s) or protein antigen(s) contains (or each contain) one or more CD8+ cytotoxic T cell recognition epitopes and/or one or more CD4+ helper T cell recognition epitopes, which is/are derived from the antigen. The antigen-loaded nanogel may be administered prior to administration of antigen-specific T cells to improve the efficacy of a T cell infusion therapy against an immune checkpoint inhibitor-resistant tumor. The hydrophobized polysaccharide may be pullulan having cholesteryl groups bound thereto. An immune-enhancing agent also may be administered in or with the antigen-loaded nanogel.