Abstract: The present invention provides antibodies which recognize a novel, membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase polypeptide [MT4-MMP(2)] that has, different from the hitherto reported MT4-MMP, physiological activity; prophylactic agents, diagnostic agents and therapeutic agents comprising the antibodies, for various diseases such as arthrosis deformans, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, autoimmune diseases, or atopic dermatitis; and methods of screening for inhibitors and activators of MT4-MMP(2) using the antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention provides a monoclonal antibody which immunologically reacts with human VEGF receptor Flt-1 and cells in which human VEGF receptor Flt-1 is expressed on the cell surface and a monoclonal antibody which inhibits binding of human VEGF to human VEGF receptor Flt-1. It also provides a means for the diagnosis or treatment of diseases in which their morbid states progress by abnormal angiogensis, such as proliferation or metastasis of solid tumors, arthritis in rheumatoid, arthritis, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, psoriasis, and the like.

Abstract: A process for the production of humanized chimera antibody, wherein the chimera antibody is produced easily without changing any of the amino acids of its mouse antibody variable region, which comprises the steps of: (1) constructing a cassette vector by inserting a cDNA coding for a heavy chain constant region of human antibody into an expression vector for animal cell use and establishing a cloning site in the upstream region of the heavy chain constant region of said cassette vector for inserting a cDNA which encodes a heavy chain variable region of nonhuman animal antibody; (2) digesting a cDNA coding for the heavy chain variable region of nonhuman animal antibody with restriction enzymes; (3) inserting said cDNA coding for the heavy chain variable region of nonhuman animal antibody into the cassette vector, using a synthetic DNA which comprises a base sequence corresponding to the 5′-end side of said heavy chain constant region of human antibody and a base sequence corresponding to the 3′-end

Abstract: The invention provides a novel &agr;-2,8-sialyltransferase expressed by a gene cloned from animal cells, a cDNA coding for the &agr;-2,8-sialyltransferase, a method of detecting, or suppressing the production of &agr;-2,8-sialyltransferase by using the cDNA, a recombinant vector containing the DNA as an insert and cells harboring the recombinant vector as well as methods of preparing same. The &agr;-2,8-sialyltransferase of the invention is useful, for example, in the production of carbohydrate chains having a useful physiological activity, for example the ganglioside GD3, and modifications thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cell for the production of an antibody molecule such as an antibody useful for various diseases having high antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxic activity, a fragment of the antibody and a fusion protein having the Fc region of the antibody or the like, a method for producing an antibody composition using the cell, the antibody composition and use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides monoclonal antibodies and humanized antibodies which react specifically with a human interleukin-5 receptor &agr; chain. The invention also provides hybridomas and transformants which produce the antibodies, the monoclonal antibodies and humanized antibodies, a method for detecting an interleukin-5 receptor &agr; chain immunologically by means of these antibodies, as well as a method for diagnosing and treating diseases such as chronic bronchial asthma by means of the monoclonal antibodies and humanized antibodies. The present invention is useful for diagnosis or treatment of diseases such as chronic bronchial asthma.

Abstract: A humanized chimera antibody, a pharmaceutical composition comprising a humanized chimera antibody and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and a method of treating cancer which comprises administering to a patient a pharmaceutically acceptable amount of said humanized chimera antibody, are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antibody or peptide which immunologically reacts with human VEGF receptor Flt-1 and cells in which human VEGF receptor Flt-1 is expressed on the cell surface and an antibody or peptide which inhibits binding of human VEGF to human VEGF receptor Flt-1. It also provides a means for the diagnosis or treatment of diseases in which their morbid states progress by abnormal angiogenesis, such as proliferation or metastasis of solid tumors, arthritis in rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, psoriasis, and the like.

Abstract: Chimeric human antibody expression vectors are constructed by inserting the antibody heavy chain variable region-encoding cDNA and antibody light chain variable region-encoding cDNA isolated from hybridomas producing a mouse or rat monoclonal antibody reacting with the ganglioside GM2 respectively into an expression vector for use in animal cells which contains the human antibody heavy chain constant region- or human antibody light chain constant region-encoding cDNA. The expression vectors are introduced into animal cells and the transformant thus obtained is cultured for the production of a chimeric human antibody reacting with the ganglioside GM2.

Abstract: The present invention provides monoclonal antibodies and humanized antibodies which react specifically with a human interleukin-5 receptor &agr; chain. The invention also provides hybridomas and transformants which produce the antibodies, the monoclonal antibodies and humanized antibodies, a method for detecting an interleukin-5 receptor &agr; chain immunologically by means of these antibodies, as well as a method for diagnosing and treating diseases such as chronic bronchial asthma by means of the monoclonal antibodies and humanized antibodies. The present invention is useful for diagnosis or treatment of diseases such as chronic bronchial asthma.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel vascular smooth muscle cell growth factor, a DNA encoding VSGF, a vector containing the DNA, a method for producing a transformant obtained by transformation with the vector, a method for producing VSGF, an antibody specifically reactive to the VSGF and a method for producing the antibody. The VSGF of the present invention is useful for diagnosis and therapy of wound healing failure, intractable skin ulcer, or abnormal blood vessel forming disease by fibroblast growth factor.

Abstract: A humanized chimera antibody, a pharmaceutical composition comprising a humanized chimera antibody and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and a method of treating cancer which comprises administering to a patient a pharmaceutically acceptable amount of the humanized chimera antibody, are disclosed.

Abstract: A humanized chimera antibody, a pharmaceutical composition comprising a humanized chimera antibody and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and a method of treating cancer which comprises administering to a patient a pharmaceutically acceptable amount of the humanized chimera antibody, are disclosed.

Abstract: Described is a monoclonal antibody capable of specifically binding to fibroblast growth factor-8 (FGF-8) which is related to growth factors of hormone-dependent tumor cells such as prostatic cancer and breast cancer, and inhibits the FGF-8 activity. The monoclonal antibody is useful in analyzing the role and biological function of FGF-8 in hormone-dependent tumor cells such as prostatic cancer and breast cancer and can be beneficial in the treatment of these cancers.

Abstract: A recombinant antibody or the antibody fragment thereof which specifically reacts with an extracellular domain of human CCR4; a DNA which encodes the recombinant antibody or the antibody fragment thereof; a method for producing the recombinant antibody or the antibody fragment thereof; a method for immunologically detecting CCR4, a method for immunologically detecting a cell which expressed CCR4 on the cell surface, a method for depleting a cell which expresses CCR4 on the cell surface, and a method for inhibiting production of Th2 cytokine, which comprise using the recombinant antibody according or antibody fragment thereof; a therapeutic or diagnostic agent for Th2-mediated immune diseases; and a therapeutic or diagnostic agent for a blood cancer.

Abstract: Chimeric human antibody expression vectors are constructed by inserting the antibody heavy chain variable region-encoding cDNA and antibody light chain variable region-encoding cDNA isolated from hybridomas producing a mouse or rat monoclonal antibody reacting with the ganglioside GM2 respectively into an expression vector for use in animal cells which contains the human antibody heavy chain constant region- or human antibody light chain constant region-encoding cDNA. The expression vectors are introduced into animal cells and the transformant thus obtained is cultured for the production of a chimeric human antibody reacting with the ganglioside GM2.

Abstract: A process for the production of humanized chimera antibody, wherein the chimera antibody is produced easily without changing any of the amino acids of its mouse antibody variable region, which comprises the steps of: (1) constructing a cassette vector by inserting a cDNA coding for a heavy chain constant region of human antibody into an expression vector for animal cell use and establishing a cloning site in the upstream region of the heavy chain constant region of said cassette vector for inserting a cDNA which encodes a heavy chain variable region of nonhuman animal antibody; (2) digesting a cDNA coding for the heavy chain variable region of nonhuman animal antibody with restriction enzymes; (3) inserting said cDNA coding for the heavy chain variable region of nonhuman animal antibody into the cassette vector, using a synthetic DNA which comprises a base sequence corresponding to the 5′-end side of said heavy chain constant region of human antibody and a base sequence corresponding to the 3′-end

Abstract: Described is a monoclonal antibody capable of specifically binding to fibroblast growth factor-8 (FGF-8) which is related to growth factors of hormone-dependent tumor cells such as prostatic cancer and breast cancer, and inhibits the FGF-8 activity. The monoclonal antibody is useful in analyzing the role and biological function of FGF-8 in hormone-dependent tumor cells such as prostatic cancer and breast cancer and can be beneficial in the treatment of these cancers.

Abstract: This invention provides a monoclonal antibody which recognizes an epitope corresponding to amino acids 10 to 220, amino acids 221 to 297, or amino acids 469 to 662, counting from the N-terminus of a human Mx protein MxA, and specifically reacts with the human Mx protein by western blotting, immunoprecipitation or immunocyte staining, and a hybridoma which produces the antibody. The human Mx protein MxA monoclonal antibody of this invention can be used, for example, in the diagnosis of viral infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a toxin conjugate in which a residue derived from a compound having an affinity for a target cell is bound to a toxin through a spacer comprising polyalkylene glycol and dipeptide.