Abstract: An antiobesity agent, an antidiabetic agent, and/or a hypolipidemic agent comprising an angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF) or a polynucleotide encoding the same as an active ingredient a polypeptide are disclosed. Further, a functional food or a health food for alleviating obesity, diabetes, and/or hyperlipemia, comprising the AGF as an active ingredient is disclosed. Furthermore, a method for treating or preventing obesity, diabetes, and/or hyperlipemia, comprising administering to a subject the AGF or a polynucleotide encoding the same is disclosed. Furthermore, use of the AGF or a polynucleotide encoding the same in the manufacture of an antiobesity agent, an antidiabetic agent, and/or a hypolipidemic agent is disclosed.

Abstract: A screening tool and a screening method for a therapeutic agent for type II diabetes, particularly an agent for alleviating insulin resistance are disclosed. A novel polypeptide, a polynucleotide, a vector, a promoter, and a transformant which are useful in the screening tool and the screening method, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of screening for an antiobesity agent, an antidiabetic agent, and/or a hypolipidemic agent, comprising the step of analyzing whether or not a substance to be tested promotes an expression and/or a function of an angiopoietin-related growth factor. The present invention relates to a method of screening for an agent for promoting an expression and/or a function of an angiopoietin-related growth factor.

Abstract: A screening tool and a screening method for a therapeutic agent for type II diabetes, particularly an agent for alleviating insulin resistance are disclosed. A novel polypeptide, a polynucleotide, a vector, a promoter, and a transformant which are useful in the screening tool and the screening method, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel polypeptide, a polynucleotide encoding this polypeptide, an expression vector comprising this polynucleotide, a cell transfected with the expression vector, an antibody binding to the above polypeptide, a convenient screening method for obtaining an agent for treating joint diseases, and a process for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for treating joint diseases are disclosed. The polypeptide is a novel aggrecanase causative of joint diseases (particularly an OA disease).

Abstract: A screening tool and a screening method for a therapeutic agent for type II diabetes, particularly an agent for alleviating insulin resistance are disclosed. A novel polypeptide, a polynucleotide, a vector, a promoter, and a transformant which are useful in the screening tool and the screening method, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Novel serine/threonine receptor proteins and BMP receptor proteins are disclosed, as well as DNA molecules encoding the BMP receptor proteins and methods of using the receptor proteins. Further disclosed are truncated BMP receptor proteins and molecules which act as ligands to the BMP receptor proteins.

Abstract: It is disclosed that novel polypeptides which has enhanced expression levels in the synovial tissues of human chronic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared with the synovial tissues of human osteoarthritis (OA) patients, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, vectors comprising the polynucleotides, transformant cells comprising the vectors and an antibody against the polypeptide. It is also disclosed that polynucleotides specifically hybridizing with the polynucleotides and having at least 15 nucleotides, a detection method which is useful for RA diagnosis, and a detection kit which is useful for RA diagnosis.

Abstract: It is disclosed that a novel polypeptide useful for screening for an agent for specific diseases to which gastrointestinal hormones are related, particularly irritable bowel syndrome, a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, a vector comprising the polynucleotide, and a transfected cell by the vector. It is disclosed that the polypeptide is a novel type II transmembrane serine protease related to the regulation of hormones produced in gastrointestinal tract or a precursor thereof. Additionally, a screening method of an agent for gastrointestinal diseases using the polypeptide and a method for producing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, comprising a substance obtained by the screening method as the active ingredient are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosing a promoter of the protease MDTS9, which is induced by TGF-?, which is involved in the metabolism of extracellular matrix, and in which the expression of the gene thereof is elevated in renal failure model animals, which promoter is useful as a tool for screening an agent for treating and/or preventing chronic renal failure, as well as a method for screening an agent for treating and/or preventing chronic renal failure by selecting an inhibitor of the promoter.

Abstract: An agent for inhibiting articular cartilage extracellular matrix degradation of the present invention, comprising a histone deacetylase-inhibiting compound as an active ingredient, is effective for the prevention and treatment of diseases and pathological conditions involving the degradation and degeneration of the articular cartilage extracellular matrix, in particular, arthrosteitis, rheumatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, and the like.

Abstract: A screening tool and a screening method for a therapeutic agent for type II diabetes, particularly an agent for alleviating insulin resistance are disclosed. A novel polypeptide, a polynucleotide, a vector, a promoter, and a transformant which are useful in the screening tool and the screening method, are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel metalloprotease having an aggrecanase activity which causes joint diseases, a gene coding for this metalloprotease, a promoter of the above metalloprotease, a method for screening a drug with the use of the above metalloprotease and a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting degradation of proteoglycans, which comprises as the active ingredient a substance capable of inhibiting the aggrecanase activity of the above metalloprotease.

Abstract: Novel serine/threonine receptor proteins and BMP receptor proteins are disclosed, as well as DNA molecules encoding said proteins and methods of using the receptor proteins. Further disclosed are truncated BMP receptor proteins and molecules which act as ligands to said BMP receptor proteins.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel metalloprotease having an aggrecanase activity which causes joint diseases, a gene coding for this metalloprotease, a promoter of the above metalloprotease, a method for screening a drug with the use of the above metalloprotease and a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting degradation of proteoglycans, which comprises as the active ingredient a substance capable of inhibiting the aggrecanase activity of the above metalloprotease.

Abstract: A novel polypeptide, a polynucleotide encoding this polypeptide, an expression vector comprising this polynucleotide, a cell transfected with the expression vector, an antibody binding to the above polypeptide, a convenient screening method for obtaining an agent for treating joint diseases, and a process for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for treating joint diseases are disclosed.

Abstract: Novel serine/threonine receptor proteins and BMP receptor proteins are disclosed, as well as DNA molecules encoding these proteins and methods of using the receptor proteins. Further disclosed are truncated BMP receptor proteins and molecules which act as ligands to these BMP receptor proteins.

Abstract: A novel polypeptide, a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, an expression vector comprising the polynucleotide, a cell transfected with the expression vector, an antibody or a fragment thereof binding to the polypeptide, and a process for producing the polypeptide are disclosed.

Abstract: Novel serine/threonine receptor proteins and BMP receptor proteins are disclosed, as well as DNA molecules encoding said proteins and methods of using the receptor proteins. Further disclosed are truncated BMP receptor proteins and molecules which act as ligands to said BMP receptor proteins.

Abstract: Novel serine/threonine receptor proteins and BMP receptor proteins are disclosed, as well as DNA molecules encoding said proteins and methods of using the receptor proteins. Further disclosed are truncated BMP receptor proteins and molecules which act as ligands to said BMP receptor proteins.