Abstract: A protein which induces the IFN-? production by immunocompetent cells and has a molecular weight of 19,000±5,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE or gel filtration method and a pI of 4.8±1.0 on chromatofocusing. The protein is isolated from mouse liver and can be purified by a monoclonal antibody specific to it. The monoclonal antibody can be also used for assaying the protein.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an agent for strengthening calcium-containing tissues, which can be safely applied; and its use: The present invention solves the object by providing an agent for strengthening calcium-containing tissues, which comprises one or more flavones, flavonols, flavanones, flavanonols, anthocyanidins, flavanols, chalcones, and aurones.

Abstract: A protein which induces the IFN-? production by immunocompetent cells and has a molecular weight of 19,000±5,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE or gel filtration method and a pI of 4.8±1.0 on chromatofocusing. The protein is isolated from mouse liver and can be purified by a monoclonal antibody specific to it. The monoclonal antibody can be also used for assaying the protein.

Abstract: An ophthalmic pharmaceutical composition comprising trehalose as an effective ingredient and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical composition is a safe, long-term continuously-administrable, therapeutic and/or prophylactic agent for the ophthalmologic clinical symptoms and signs in Sjögren syndrome.

Abstract: The present invention has objects to provide a mutant interferon-? protein having a higher anti-viral and anti-tumor activity and to provide an agent for susceptive diseases, which contains the mutant interferon-? protein as an effective ingredient; and solves the above objects by providing a mutant protein which has an amino acid sequence of human interferon-? subtype ?8 represented by any one of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 3, where the arginine residue at the 145th has been replaced with leucine, isoleucine, or valine residue; the alanine residue at the 146th has been replaced with asparagine or serine residue; and the methionine residue at the 149th has been replaced with tyrosine residue; and an agent for susceptive diseases, containing the mutant protein.

Abstract: The present invention has objects to provide a mutant interferon-? protein having a higher anti-viral and anti-tumor activity and to provide an agent for susceptive diseases, which contains the mutant interferon-? protein as an effective ingredient; and solves the above objects by providing a mutant protein which has an amino acid sequence of human interferon-? subtype ?8 represented by any one of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 3, where the arginine residue at the 145th has been replaced with leucine, isoleucine, or valine residue; the alanine residue at the 146th has been replaced with asparagine or serine residue; and the methionine residue at the 149th has been replaced with tyrosine residue; and an agent for susceptive diseases, containing the mutant protein.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a means to effectively enhance the production of cytokines and/or chemokines in mammals. The object is solved by providing an agent for enhancing the production of cytokines and/or chemokines, which comprises, as an effective ingredient, a polypeptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 3; a polypeptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 3, where one or more amino acids thereof are deleted or replaced with other amino acid(s) and/or one or more amino acids are added thereunto, without substantially losing the biological activity of the polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an agent for strengthening calcium-containing tissues, which can be safely applied; and its use: The present invention solves the object by providing an agent for strengthening calcium-containing tissues, which comprises one or more flavones, flavonols, flavanones, flavanonols, anthocyanidins, flavanols, chalcones, and aurones.

Abstract: A monoclonal antibody which is specific to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 18,500±3,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE and a pI of 4.9±1.0 on chromatofocusing. The monoclonal antibody is obtainable from hybridomas and can be used for the purification and detection of the polypeptide. The polypeptide strongly induces the IFN-? production by immunocompetent cells with only a small amount, and dose not cause serious side effects even when administered to human in a relatively-high dose.

Abstract: A human IFN-? inducing polypeptide and its nucleotide sequence was isolated, purified and characterized. Pharmaceutical compositions containing this novel INF-? inducing polypeptide or active fragments thereof are formulated and monoclonal antibodies are raised against this polypeptide or antigenic fragments thereof. The polypeptide can be used in a method for treating diseases susceptive to treatment with INF-?, and methods for enhancing the cytotoxicity of NK cells or for inducing the formation of LAK cells, such as to treat tumors and malignant pathologies.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an agent for promoting IFN-? production, which can be safely applied to living bodies; the present invention solves the problem by providing an agent for promoting IFN-? production, which comprises a tri-heterocyclic polymethine cyanine dye(s), and a method for producing IFN-?, which comprises a step of allowing the agent to act on immunocompetent cells.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an anti-allergic agent, which efficaciously relieves symptoms accompanying an allergic disease without causing any serious side effect. This object is achieved by providing an anti-allergic agent which contains, as an effective ingredient, proteins collected from royal jelly or purified royal jelly, or royal jelly or purified royal jelly containing the proteins.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an agent for enhancing collagen production and use thereof, and solves the object by establishing an agent for enhancing collagen production, which comprises as effective ingredients L-ascorbic acid or its derivative and a fatty acid or its derivative, and use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a means to effectively enhance the production of cytokines and/or chemokines in mammals. The object is solved by providing an agent for enhancing the production of cytokines and/or chemokines, which comprises, as an effective ingredient, a polypeptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 3; a polypeptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 3, where one or more amino acids thereof are deleted or replaced with other amino acid(s) and/or one or more amino acids are added thereunto, without substantially losing the biological activity of the polypeptide.

Abstract: The objects of the present invention are to reveal a specific combination of human interferon-? subtypes that remarkably enhances the expression of protein synthesis inhibitory genes, and to provide an expression enhancer comprising as effective ingredients interferon-? subtypes in such a combination and uses thereof. The above objects are solved by providing an expression enhancer for protein synthesis inhibitory genes which comprises as effective ingredients interferon-?2 and interferon-?8 subtypes of human interferon-?, and uses thereof including pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A human IFN-? inducing polypeptide and its nucleotide sequence was isolated, purified and characterized. Pharmaceutical compositions containing this novel INF-? inducing polypeptide or active fragments thereof are formulated and monoclonal antibodies are raised against this polypeptide or antigenic fragments thereof. The polypeptide can be used in a method for treating diseases susceptive to treatment with INF-?, and methods for enhancing the cytotoxicity of NK cells or for inducing the formation of LAK cells, such as to treat tumors and malignant pathologies.

Abstract: Disclosed are a receptor protein which recognize a novel cytokine, i.e., interleukin-18, a monoclonal antibody specific to the protein, and uses thereof. The receptor protein is useful as pharmaceutical to treat and prevent autoimmune and allergic disease because it suppresses and regulates excessive immunoreaction. The monoclonal antibody specifically reacts with interleukin-18, exhibiting efficacy in purification, detection and inhibition of interleukin-18.

Abstract: A human IFN-? inducing polypeptide and its nucleotide sequence was isolated, purified and characterized. Pharmaceutical compositions containing this novel IFN-? inducing polypeptide or active fragments thereof are formulated and monoclonal antibodies are raised against this polypeptide or antigenic fragments thereof. The polypeptide can be used in a method for treating diseases susceptive to treatment with IFN-?, and methods for enhancing the cytotoxicity of NK cells or for inducing the formation of LAK cells, such as to treat tumors and malignant pathologies.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an anti-allergic agent, which efficaciously relieves symptoms accompanying an allergic disease without causing any serious side effect. This object is achieved by providing an anti-allergic agent which contains, as an effective ingredient, proteins collected from royal jelly or purified royal jelly, or royal jelly or purified royal jelly containing the proteins.

Abstract: Disclosed are artificially produced peptide capable of neutralizing the biological activities of IL-18, which comprises a part or the whole of the variable regions in anti interleukin 18 antibody, including single chain variable region fragments and humanized antibodies, a process of producing the peptide, and uses thereof. The peptide is useful as pharmaceutical to treat and prevent diseases such as autoimmune diseases and inflammatory diseases, where the biological activities of interleukin-18 are involved.