Abstract: T cells from multiple subjects who showed different cedar pollen specific IgE titers were prepared before and after cedar pollen dispersal, and differential display analysis was performed to screen for pollen antigen responsive genes. As a result, a novel gene was successfully isolated whose expression is significantly higher in subjects with high cedar pollen specific IgE titer. The inventors have found that it is possible to use this gene to test for an allergic disease and to screen for candidate compounds for therapeutic drugs for an allergic disease.

Abstract: CYP1B1 was obtained as a gene whose expression levels in mononuclear cells greatly differs between a steroid responder group and a poorly steroid responder group of atopic dermatitis patients. CYP1B1 is a gene whose expression levels are reduced in mononuclear cells of the poorly steroid responder group. The present invention provides a method for testing steroid responsiveness and a method of screening for a compound that is useful in improving steroid responsiveness using the expression level of this gene in biological samples as an indicator.

Abstract: RING6 and HLA-DMB are described herein as genes whose expression levels in mononuclear cells greatly differ between a steroid responder group and a poor steroid responder group in atopic dermatitis patients. Specifically, the expression levels of the RING6 and HLA-DMB genes were demonstrated to be reduced in steroid-responsive patients. Using the expression level of such genes in biological samples as markers of steroid responsiveness, the present invention provides a method of testing for steroid responsiveness and a method of screening for compounds that may be used to improve steroid responsiveness.

Abstract: A probe is utilized in the hybridization with a natural nucleic acid to form a double strand. The probe contains a cytosine derivative which specifically binds to guanine by forming two hydrogen bonds with the guanine nucleotide and/or a guanine derivative which specifically binds to cytosine by forming two hydrogen bonds with the cytosine nucleotide. This enables a large number of hybridization reactions to be carried out at once under uniform conditions.