Abstract: A plasmid was constructed, in which the hiNOS structural gene was replaced with the luciferase structural gene as a reporter gene, with retaining functions of the hiNOS gene 5′-promoter region and 3′-untranslated region. This plasmid was stably transfected into human cell lines. The above transformed cells selectively expressed the reporter gene in the presence of inducers. It has become possible, by examining the reporter gene expression in these transformed cells, to simply and easily screen, with high sensitivity, a compound which is expected to be useful for treating inflammations and sepsis by suppressing the hiNOS expression, or a compound which is expected to be useful for antitumor, antiviral, and vascular restenosis prevention treatments by the hiNOS induction.

Abstract: The metastasis of cells, which express a glycoprotein of human carcinoembryonic antigen on the cells surfaces, is inhibited in a living organ by administering, in advance, to a subject, a monoclonal antibody which binds a peptide which comprises at least the peptide sequence of domain N in the glycoprotein of human carcinoembryonic antigen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a DNA fragment comprising a base sequence coding for a peptide occurring in human atrium cordis and having diuretic action or a precursor of the peptide, plasmids containing the DNA fragment, microorganisms transformed with the plasmid, and a process for production of the peptide using the transformant.Also disclosed is a new peptide consisting of 126 amino acids occurring in human atrium cordis and a precursor thereof. The peptide has notable diuretic action and hypotensive or antihypertensive actions.