Abstract: The present invention provides a screening tool and screening method for obtaining a substance useful as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic drug for diseases associated with 5-HT production/secretion abnormalities, including digestive organ diseases, and a prophylactic and/or therapeutic drug for diseases associated with 5-HT production/secretion abnormalities, including digestive organ diseases. Examples of digestive organ diseases in the present invention include constipation type irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, constipation, diarrhea type irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea and vomiting.

Abstract: [Problems] A compound, which is useful as an active ingredient for a pharmaceutical composition, for example a pharmaceutical composition for treating constipation-type irritable bowel syndrome, atonic constipation and/or functional gastrointestinal disorder, is provided. [Means for Solution] The present inventors have extensively studied compounds having TRPA1 channel activation activity, and confirmed that an indolinone compound has a TRPA1 channel activation activity, and thus completed the present invention. The indolinone compound of the present invention has a TRPA1 channel activation activity and can be used as an active ingredient of a pharmaceutical composition for preventing and/or treating constipation-type irritable bowel syndrome, atonic constipation and/or functional gastrointestinal disorder or the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a screening tool and screening method for obtaining a substance useful as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic drug for diseases associated 5 with 5-HT production/secretion abnormalities, including digestive organ diseases, and a prophylactic and/or therapeutic drug for diseases associated with 5-HT production/secretion abnormalities, including digestive organ diseases. Examples of digestive organ diseases in the present invention include constipation type irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, constipation, diarrhea type irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea and vomiting.

Abstract: A novel polypeptide, a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, an expression vector comprising the polynucleotide, a cell transfected by the expression vector, a method for producing the polypeptide, and a convenient screening system for obtaining a substance useful in treating cell injuries due to postischemic reperfusion or an inflammatory disease, are disclosed. The polypeptide is a potassium-dependent sodium-calcium exchanger expressed in peripheral leukocytes.

Abstract: There is provided a method of screening for substance that inhibits cell death induced by activation of PARP, particularly a substance that is useful as a therapeutic and/or preventive agent for rheumatoid arthritis, neuronal death at the time of cerebral ischemia, cell death of the heart after myocardial infarction reperfusion, autoimmune destruction of ?-cells of pancreatic islets of Langerhans, cell death after shock, or inflammatory reaction by immunocyte death. Also provided are a novel protein and a novel gene encoding the same. The aforementioned screening method comprises a step of allowing a test substance to contact a cell expressing an LTRPC2 protein under a conditions such that the LTRPC2 protein can be activated, and a step of analyzing inhibition of LTRPC2 protein activation. The aforementioned novel protein is a rat or mouse LTRPC2 protein, and the aforementioned novel gene is a rat or mouse LTRPC2 gene.

Abstract: A novel polypeptide, a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, an expression vector comprising the polynucleotide, a cell transfected by the expression vector, a method for producing the polypeptide, and a convenient screening system for obtaining a substance useful in treating cell injuries due to postischemic reperfusion or an inflammatory disease, are disclosed. The polypeptide is a potassium-dependent sodium-calcium exchanger expressed in peripheral leukocytes.

Abstract: There is provided a method for screening a substance capable of inhibiting cell death induced by the activation of PARP, particularly a substance which is useful as a therapeutic agent and/or a preventive agent for rheumatoid arthritis, neuronal death at the time of cerebral ischemia, cell death of the heart after myocardial infarction reperfusion, autoimmune destruction of &bgr;-cells of pancreatic islets of Langerhans, cell death after shock, or inflammatory reaction by immunocyte death. Also provided are a novel protein and a novel gene coding for the same.