Abstract: To provide a cell trait assay technique for identifying cultured human corneal endothelium cells of which early clinical effect manifestation and a long-term stable clinical effect are confirmed, in clinical trials. Provided is a method of manufacturing a functional human corneal endothelial cell capable of eliciting a human corneal function when infused into an anterior chamber of a human eye, the method comprising the step of proliferating and/or differentiating or maturing a corneal endothelial progenitor cell under a culture condition capable of minimizing culture stress, such as proliferation stress.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing the risk of glaucoma development, which can diagnose the risk of glaucoma development at the pre-disease stage, and to provide a new method to diagnose disease progression in the end-stage glaucoma. The method can include, for example, a diagnosing method for the risk of an ocular disease development or for the disease progression of an end-stage ocular disease by molecular profile analysis of the ocular anterior tissue microenvironment, comprising a step of measuring the concentration level of a metabolite appearing in the collected aqueous humor specimens by mass spectrometry (MS).

Abstract: A cell evaluation method evaluates the quality of a cell population including a plurality of cells. The cell evaluation method comprises: an index calculation step of calculating an index, based on a captured image of the cell population, the index including at least any one of an average distance representing a packing degree of the cells, a spring constant representing a degree of consistency in distances between the cells, and a hexagonal order parameter representing a degree to which an arrangement of the cells resembles a regular hexagon; and an evaluation step of evaluating the cell population, based on the index calculated in the index calculation step.

Abstract: A cell evaluation method evaluates the quality of a cell population including a plurality of cells. The cell evaluation method comprises: an index calculation step of calculating an index, based on a captured image of the cell population, the index including at least any one of an average distance representing a packing degree of the cells, a spring constant representing a degree of consistency in distances between the cells, and a hexagonal order parameter representing a degree to which an arrangement of the cells resembles a regular hexagon; and an evaluation step of evaluating the cell population, based on the index calculated in the index calculation step.

Abstract: The present invention complete a technique of treating a corneal disorder or disease by infusion into an anterior chamber of human eyes. Specifically, the present invention based on the findings discovered that cultured human corneal endothelial cells are comprised of a plurality of subpopulations, most of them are not suitable for infusion into patients. The above-described subject was overcome by providing, as a medicament, functionally high grade quality of cells having the function of mature differentiated human corneal endothelial cells which is a specific subpopulation and characterized by their biochemical and functional phenotypes. The present invention provides such a functional mature differentiated corneal endothelial cells, medicament comprising the same, and manufacturing method, quality control and techniques related thereto.

Abstract: A cell evaluation method evaluates the quality of a cell population including a plurality of cells. The cell evaluation method comprises: an index calculation step of calculating an index, based on a captured image of the cell population, the index including at least any one of an average distance representing a packing degree of the cells, a spring constant representing a degree of consistency in distances between the cells, and a hexagonal order parameter representing a degree to which an arrangement of the cells resembles a regular hexagon; and an evaluation step of evaluating the cell population, based on the index calculated in the index calculation step.

Abstract: The present invention complete a technique of treating a corneal disorder or disease by infusion into an anterior chamber of human eyes. Specifically, the present invention based on the findings discovered that cultured human corneal endothelial cells are comprised of a plurality of subpopulations, most of them are not suitable for infusion into patients. The above-described subject was overcome by providing, as a medicament, functionally high grade quality of cells having the function of mature differentiated human corneal endothelial cells which is a specific subpopulation and characterized by their biochemical and functional phenotypes. The present invention provides such a functional mature differentiated corneal endothelial cells, medicament comprising the same, and manufacturing method, quality control and techniques related thereto.

Abstract: A method of suppressing immune responses, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising a substance capable of reducing the content of reductive glutathione in macrophages.

Abstract: A sheet-shaped composition that is applicable to a wide spectrum of uses and can be transplanted through simple and easy transplanting technique. There is provided a sheet-shaped composition comprising amniotic membrane and, attached to the surface thereof, fibrinogen and thrombin. In one form, a cell layer is formed on the amnion on its side opposite to the side of adhesive component attachment.

Abstract: A biological tissue sheet which is expected as exerting a favorable therapeutic effect and a high safety in transplantation. The biological tissue sheet formed by (a) preparing in vivo-derived cells; (b) sowing the in vivo-derived cells on amniotic membrane; and (c) culturing and proliferating the in vivo-derived cells in the absence of any xenogeneic animal cells. As the cells of a biological origin, for example, cells originating in corneal epithelium, conjunctival epithelium, skin epidermis, hair follicle epithelium, oral mucosa, respiratory tract mucosa, or intestinal tract mucosa.

Abstract: A corneal epithelial sheet having potential for the achievement of a favorable therapeutic effect and being highly safe in transplantation. The corneal epithelial sheet is constructed by: (a) preparing corneal epithelial cells; (b) separately culturing human fibroblasts in a collagen gel; (c) sowing or placing the corneal epithelial cells on the collagen gel; and (d) culturing and proliferating the corneal epithelial cells in the absence of xenogeneic animal cells.

Abstract: An immunomodulator is provided which is capable of oral intake for improvement, treatment and prevention of human immunological diseases and which is used to treat, improve and prevent human immunological diseases, especially, autoimmune diseases and allergic diseases such as hepatic cirrhosis, hepatitis, diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and cutaneous atopy, allergic diseases and cancers by a new method that can control the redox state of macrophages or monocytes, and can be incorporated into a drug, a food, a nutrient, and an infusion. The contents of oxidative glutathione and reductive glutathione in macrophages are monitored, and the ratio of oxidative glutathione and reductive glutathione is examined, whereby macrophages are classified into oxidative macrophages and reductive macrophages having different functions. The degree of progression of various autoimmune diseases is analyzed from this standpoint.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drug product for the prevention, improvement in conditions relating to, and/or treatment of diabetes, comprising ? (1?3) glucan derived from vegetable material and having a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 20,000. The drug product of the present invention can be widely employed as a diabetes drug for both IDDM and NIDDM, exhibits almost no side effects and does not have an obese effect even when orally administered, can be widely employed as a medical drug for patients in various states of morbidity, and can be employed by patients, generally healthy persons, and other animals in the form of food and drink products such as therapeutic foods and health foods. The present invention provides a method of preventing, improving conditions relating to, and/or treating diabetes comprising administering the above-specified ? (1?3) glucan.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drug product for the prevention, improvement in conditions relating to, and/or treatment of intestinal disease, comprising ?(1-3) glucan derived from vegetable material and having a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 20,000. The present invention can be widely employed as a drug product for various intestinal diseases, particularly inflammatory bowel disease. The drug product of the present invention has almost no side effects, is highly effective when orally administered, and can be conveniently employed by numerous patients. Furthermore, the drug product of the present invention can be employed in the form of a health food product. The present invention also provides a method of preventing, improving conditions relating to, and/or treating intestinal disease.

Abstract: A tumor antigen gene is identified by screening a cDNA library derived from a gastric cancer cell line that can induce gastric cancer antigen specific cytotoxic T cell (CTL) by means of hybridization and PCR utilizing an amino acid sequence of peptide fragment of a known gastric cancer antigen protein, introducing a selected cDNA clone into a cell of gastric cancer cell line that cannot induce gastric cancer antigen specific CTL so that the clone should be expressed in the cell, and selecting a transgenic cell that has acquired the ability to induce CTL. According to the present invention, there are provided a protein capable of inducing immune response against human gastric cancer, DNA encoding the protein, as well as vaccine for treatment and prevention of human gastric cancer, and agent for treatment and prevention of human gastric cancer.

Abstract: A method of suppressing immune responses, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising a substance capable of reducing the content of reductive glutathione in macrophages.

Abstract: A peptide that induces CTL against human gastric cancer cells is provided. A peptide having a specific amino-acid sequence and induces cytotoxic T cells that targets gastric cancer cells may be used as an agent for preventing or treating gastric cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transplant rejection suppressor, as well as foods, drinks, nutriments and pharmaceuticals containing the same. Further, the present application relates to a method for suppressing transplant rejection. Still further, the present invention relates to the treatment and/or prevention of diseases accompanied by rejection in transplantation of human organs and stem cell transplantation of tissues. Finally, the present invention relates to methods of detecting an oxidized and/or reduced glutathione content in macrophage cells, as well as methods of classifying macrophages into oxidative macrophages and reductive macrophages.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drug product for the prevention, improvement in conditions relating to, and/or treatment of intestinal disease, comprising &bgr; (1→3) glucan derived from vegetable material and having a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 20,000. The present invention can be widely employed as a drug product for various intestinal diseases, particularly inflammatory bowel disease. The drug product of the present invention has almost no side effects, is highly effective when orally administered, and can be conveniently employed by numerous patients. Furthermore, the drug product of the present invention can be employed in the form of a health food product. The present invention also provides a method of preventing, improving conditions relating to, and/or treating intestinal disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drug product for the prevention, improvement in conditions relating to, and/or treatment of diabetes, comprising &bgr;(1→3) glucan derived from vegetable material and having a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 20,000. The drug product of the present invention can be widely employed as a diabetes drug for both IDDM and NIDDM, exhibits almost no side effects and does not have an obese effect even when orally administered, can be widely employed as a medical drug for patients in various states of morbidity, and can be employed by patients, generally healthy persons, and other animals in the form of food and drink products such as therapeutic foods and health foods. The present invention provides a method of preventing, improving conditions relating to, and/or treating diabetes comprising administering the above-specified &bgr;(1→3) glucan.