Abstract: A preventive and therapeutic agent for psoriasis comprising an interleukin-6 (IL-6) antagonist such as, for example, an antibody against IL-6 receptor.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a screening method for a substance, which could be a therapeutic agent for diabetes with insulin resistance through regulating a function of a molecule involved in insulin signaling pathway. More specifically, the present invention discloses a screening method for a substance having hypoglycemic activity, which is characterized by contacting a sample to STAT-induced inhibitor of STAT function-1 in the presence of insulin, and by detecting inhibitory activity of STAT-induced inhibitor of STAT function-1 by a substance in the sample, as an index.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mesothelioma therapeutic agent containing an interleukin-6 (IL-6) antagonist such as antibody to IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), and a mesothelioma cell growth inhibitor containing an IL-6 antagonist such as antibody to IL-6R.

Abstract: To provide a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for vasculitis such as polyarteritis nodosa, the aortitis syndrome, and a vasculitis that is associated with immunological abnormalities, said agent comprising an interleukin-6 (IL-6) antagonist as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions for prevention or treatment of diseases caused by interleukin-6 production, comprising an antibody to interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R antibody). As the IL-6R antibody, an antibody of animals other than the human such as mice, rats, etc., a chimeric antibody between these and a human antibody, a reshaped human antibody, etc. may be used. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for prevention or treatment of diseases caused by interleukin-6 production such as plasmacytosis, anti-IgGl-emia, anemia, nephritis, etc.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a DNA encoding a polypeptide including an entire sequence of the amino acid sequence as shown by SEQ ID NO: 2 or a partial sequence thereof, or a polypeptide including the polypeptide described above, wherein any of the polypeptides has an activity of a receptor capable of binding to a murine PBSF/SDF-1; a polypeptide encoded by the DNA described above, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of a receptor capable of binding to a murine PBSF/SDF-1; cells expressing the polypeptide described above and a human CD4 protein; and a method of screening an AIDS onset inhibitor or an HIV-1 infection inhibitor, characterized by the use of the cells described above. According to the present invention, there can be provided a novel murine CXC chemokine receptor gene, a method of screening an HIV-1 infection inhibitor, and the like, each of which is useful in studies of a therapeutic agent for AIDS and the functional mechanism of HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a DNA encoding a polypeptide comprising an entire sequence of the amino acid sequence as shown by SEQ ID NO:2 of Sequence Listing or a partial sequence thereof, or a polypeptide comprising the polypeptide described above, wherein any of the polypeptides has an activity of a receptor capable of binding to a murine PBSF/SDF-1; a polypeptide encoded by the DNA described above, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of a receptor capable of binding to a murine PBSF/SDF-1; cells expressing the polypeptide described above and a human CD4 protein; and a method of screening an AIDS onset inhibitor or an HIV-1 infection inhibitor, characterized by the use of the cells described above. According to the present invention, there can be provided a novel murine CXC chemokine receptor gene, a method of screening an HIV-1 infection inhibitor, and the like, each of which is useful in studies of a therapeutic agent for AIDS and the functional mechanism of HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: Hydroxamic acid derivatives of the formula (I) 1

Abstract: This invention provides a therapeutic agent for inhibiting neovascularization, a therapeutic agent for a solid cancer, a therapeutic agent for a disease pathologically caused by neovascularization, and a therapeutic agent for repairing a tissue comprising as the effective ingredient, a substance that potentiates the action of CXCR4.

Abstract: Hydroxamic acid derivatives of the formula (I) (wherein all the symbols have the same meaning as defined in the specification.), non-toxic salt thereof or prodrugs thereof. The compounds of the formula (I) inhibit producing IL-6, so it may be used for the prevention and/or treatment of various inflammatory diseases, sepsis, multiple myeloma, plasma cell leukemia, osteoporosis, cachexia, psoriasis, nephritis, renal cell carcinoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, rheumatoid arthritis, hypergammaglobulinemia, Castleman's disease, atrial myxoma, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune diseases, hepatitis, colitis, graft versus host disease, infectious diseases and endometriosis.

Abstract: A preventive or therapeutic agent for treating bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, where the agent has as an active ingredient an antibody directed against IL-6 receptor which is an interleukin-6 antagonist.

Abstract: A preventive or therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis said agent comprising as an active ingredient an interleukin-6 (IL-6) antagonist such as an antibody directed against IL-6 receptor.

Abstract: A preventive and therapeutic agent for psoriasis comprising an interleukin-6 (IL-6) antagonist such as, for example, an antibody against IL-6 receptor.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a screening method for a substance, which could be a therapeutic agent for diabetes with insulin resistance through regulating a function of a molecule involved in insulin signaling pathway. More specifically, the present invention discloses a screening method for a substance having hypoglycemic activity, which is characterized by contacting a sample to STAT-induced inhibitor of STAT function-1 in the presence of insulin, and by detecting inhibitory activity of STAT-induced inhibitor of STAT function-1 by a substance in the sample, as an index.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing primary heart muscle cells, characterized by washing a fine fragmented heart tissue with a phosphate-buffered physiological saline to thereby eliminate non-heart muscle cells and then hemolyzing the heart tissue digested with a protease to thereby eliminate erythrocytes. According to this method, highly pure primary heart muscle cells can be conveniently obtained in a large amount from the heart of an animal embryo or newborn. By using the heart muscle thus prepared, apoptosis of heart muscle cells can be efficiently and highly sensitively detected. Thus, it is possible to efficiently screen candidate compounds for heart muscle cell apoptosis inhibitors, gp 130-mediated receptor agonists, heart muscle cell-protective signal enhancers, preventives and remedies for heart diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fused thiophene derivative of the formula (I) (wherein all the symbols are defined as described in the specification) and an inhibitor of producing interleukin-6 and/or interleukin-12 comprising the said derivative as an active ingredient. A fused thiophene derivative of the formula (I) is useful as an agent for the prevention and/or treatment of various inflammatory diseases, sepsis, multiple myeloma, plasma cell leukemia, osteoporosis, cachexia, psoriasis, nephritis, renal cell carcinoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, rheumatoid arthritis, gammopathy, Castleman's disease, atrial myxoma, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune diseases, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, colitis, graft versus host immune diseases, infectious diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fused thiophene derivative of the formula (I) (wherein all the symbols are defined as described in the specification) and an inhibitor of producing interleukin-6 and/or interleukin-12 comprising the said derivative as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a protein having the ability to inhibit the function of a STAT in a mammalian JAK/STAT signal transduction pathway, which is induced by STAT3 or STAT6, which has the ability to inhibit tyrosine phosphorylation of gp130 or STAT3 and which comprises an SH2 domain; and also disclosed is a DNA coding for the same. Further disclosed is a method for screening a substance having the capability to regulate cytokine activity, in which the protein of the present invention is used. Still further disclosed are an antisense DNA and an antisense RNA capable of inhibiting the biosynthesis of the above-mentioned protein; a monoclonal antibody capable of binding to the above-mentioned protein; and a DNA probe and an RNA probe capable of hybridizing to the above-mentioned DNA.

Abstract: An isolated receptor protein for human B cell stimulatory factor-2, capable of specifically binding to the human B cell stimulatory factor-2; DNA coding for the above-mentioned receptor protein; expression vectors containing the above-mentioned DNA; host organisms transformed with the above-mentioned expression vector; a process for production of the receptor protein comprising culturing the host organisms in a medium to produce the receptor protein and recovering the receptor protein from the culture; and a antibody reacting with the protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fused thiophene derivative of the formula (I) (wherein all the symbols are defined as described in the specification) and an inhibitor of producing interleukin-6 and/or interleukin-12 comprising the said derivative as an active ingredient. A fused thiophene derivative of the formula (I) is useful as an agent for the prevention and/or treatment of various inflammatory diseases, sepsis, multiple myeloma, plasma cell leukemia, osteoporosis, cachexia, psoriasis, nephritis, renal cell carcinoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, rheumatoid arthritis, gammopathy, Castleman's disease, atrial myxoma, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune diseases, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, colitis, graft versus host immune diseases, infectious diseases.