Abstract: Disclosed is a bioassay system in an in-vitro test that enables higher quality guarantee of yokukansan. A bioassay for yokukansan comprises the steps of culturing cells in a culture medium with serum, adding yokukansan to the cells in a serum-free medium, applying ER stress to the cells to induce cell death, and determining a pharmacological activity value of yokukansan from cell viability in the cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a marker, kit and method for determining the level of axon outgrowth and/or fasciculation, or conditions, disorders or diseases associated with the level of axon outgrowth and/or fasciculation. The present invention was achieved by unexpectedly finding the relationship between DISC1 and FEZ1 and KIAA0844 and unexpectedly finding that axon outgrowth and/or fasciculation are not normally conducted if the normal binding therebetween was inhibited. Therefore, the present invention relates to an agent specifically interacting with DISC1 and a gene product thereof, an agent specifically binding FEZ1 and a gene product thereof, an agent specifically binding FEZ1 and a gene product thereof, and an agent specifically binding KIAA0844 and a gene product thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means for treatment and/or prevention of a disease caused by aberrant splicing, a neurodegenerative disease represented by Alzheimer's disease, or the like. The present invention relates to a nucleic acid which can be associated with generation of a splice variant that lacks exon 5 of presenilin-2 gene, an inhibitor for inhibiting a binding between protein-nucleic acid caused by aberrant splicing, and a method for screening the inhibitor.

Abstract: A method of detecting PS2V characterized by comprising reacting PS2V in a sample with a primary antibody which is bonded to a solid phase and specifically recognizes PA2V, then reacting with a secondary antibody recognizing PS2 or PS2V by any of the following procedures: (a) reacting with a secondary antibody having been enzyme-labeled and recognizing PS2 or PS2V; (b) reacting with a secondary antibody having been biotinylated and recognizing PS2 or PS2V and then reacting with an avidinylated or streptoavidinylated enzyme; (c) reacting with a secondary antibody having been biotinylated and recognizing PS2 or PS2V and then reacting with a biotinylated enzyme and avidin or streptoavidin; and (d) reacting with a secondary antibody recognizing PS2 or PS2V and then reacting with an antibody having been enzyme-labeled and recognizing the secondary antibody; then adding the substrate of the above enzyme and detecting the product formed by the enzyme reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition and method for regenerating nerves and treating neurological diseases based on nerve regeneration. The present invention employs a substance, such as Pep5, PKC, IP3, Rho, Rho GDI, Rho kinase, or the like, which are involved in a p75 signal transduction pathway, or an agent capable of specifically interacting with any of these substances to block or suppress the p75 signal transduction pathway, thereby stopping inhibition of nerve regeneration. As a result, nerve regeneration is resumed. The present invention is also the first to disclose that the PTD domain is useful as an agent for nerve regeneration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for evaluating a substance capable of affecting endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis and/or amyloid-?-induced apoptosis, a kit for evaluating the substance and a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: To provide a means useful for treating or preventing a disease such as a brain disorder or a neurodegenerative disease even more efficiently and even more sustainedly. The present invention relates to an inhibitor capable of inhibiting a binding between HMG-I protein and exon 5 of presenilin-2 mRNA, an agent for suppressing neuronal death, capable of suppressing neuronal death, a pharmaceutical composition which is useful for treatment or prevention of a disease caused by the generation of a splice variant that lacks exon 5 of presenilin-2 mRNA, a method for treating or preventing the disease and a use of the inhibitor.

Abstract: A method of detecting PS2V characterized by comprising reacting PS2V in a sample with a primary antibody which is bonded to a solid phase and specifically recognizes PA2V, then reacting with a secondary antibody recognizing PS2 or PS2V by any of the following procedures: (a) reacting with a secondary antibody having been enzyme-labeled and recognizing PS2 or PS2V; (b) reacting with a secondary antibody having been biotinylated and recognizing PS2 or PS2V and then reacting with an avidinylated or streptoavidinylated enzyme; (c) reacting with a secondary antibody having been biotinylated and recognizing PS2 or PS2V and then reacting with a biotinylated enzyme and avidin or streptoavidin; and (d) reacting with a secondary antibody recognizing PS2 or PS2V and then reacting with an antibody having been enzyme-labeled and recognizing the secondary antibody; then adding the substrate of the above enzyme and detecting the product formed by the enzyme reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means for treatment and/or prevention of a disease caused by aberrant splicing, a neurodegenerative disease represented by Alzheimer's disease, or the like. The present invention relates to a nucleic acid which can be associated with generation of a splice variant that lacks exon 5 of presenilin-2 gene, an inhibitor for inhibiting a binding between protein-nucleic acid caused by aberrant splicing, and a method for screening the inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition and method for regenerating nerves and treating neurological diseases based on nerve regeneration. The present invention employs a substance, such as Pep5, PKC, IP3, p75, Rho, Rho GDI, MAG, GT1b, p21, Rho kinase, or the like, which are involved in a p75 signal transduction pathway, or an agent capable of specifically interacting with any of these substances to block or suppress the p75 signal transduction pathway, thereby stopping inhibition of nerve regeneration. As a result, nerve regeneration is resumed. The present invention is also the first to disclose that the PTD domain is useful as an agent for nerve regeneration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for regenerating nerves, comprising the step of inhibiting a p75 signal transduction pathway. The inhibition of the p75 signal transduction pathway is selected from the group consisting of inhibition of an interaction between MAG and GT1b, inhibition of an interaction between GT1b and p75, inhibition of an interaction between p75 and Rho, inhibition of an interaction between p75 and Rho GDI, maintenance or enhancement of an interaction between Rho and Rho GDI, inhibition of conversion from Rho GDP to Rho GTP, inhibition of an interaction between Rho and Rho kinase, and inhibition of an activity of Rho kinase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for screening and identifying therapeutic agents or preventive agents for central nervous system diseases which comprises assaying a suppressing effect of a test substance on an expression of a splicing variant transcribed from presenilin-2 gene and to a method for examining central nervous system diseases which comprises detecting an expression of a splicing variant transcribed from presenilin-2 gene in a test sample originated from an animal individual.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for screening and identifying therapeutic agents or preventive agents for central nervous system diseases which comprises assaying a suppressing effect of a test substance on an expression of a splicing variant transcribed from presenilin-2 gene and to a method for examining central nervous system diseases which comprises detecting an expression of a splicing variant transcribed from presenilin-2 gene in a test sample originated from an animal individual.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing an antibody highly specific to a low-molecular weight substance such as amino acids, peptides, amines, steroids, etc. The invention also relates to a process for producing the same by forming a complex of the substance with colloidal metal particles and sensitizing a mammal with the complex. The antibody can be in the form of an antiserum containing the antibody. Since the antibody has a high specificity to the intended low-molecular weight substance, it is useful as a reagent for various immunohistochemical methods and immunoassays.