Abstract: The activated Factor XI is provided as an antitussive for cough caused by the stimulation at the tracheal bifurcation such as chronic cough. A pharmaceutical composition for prevention, treatment and/or symptom amelioration of cough, comprising a polypeptide chain as an active ingredient and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the polypeptide chain consists of a full length amino acid sequence constituting activated Factor XI (hereinafter also referred to as “FXIa”), the amino acid sequence with one or several amino acids therein being deleted, substituted or added, or a partial sequence of either of the above amino acid sequences, or an amino acid sequence comprising as a part any of the above amino acid sequences.

Abstract: The activated Factor XI is provided as an antitussive for cough caused by the stimulation at the tracheal bifurcation such as chronic cough. A pharmaceutical composition for prevention, treatment and/or symptom amelioration of cough, comprising a polypeptide chain as an active ingredient and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the polypeptide chain consists of a full length amino acid sequence constituting activated Factor XI (hereinafter also referred to as “FXIa”), the amino acid sequence with one or several amino acids therein being deleted, substituted or added, or a partial sequence of either of the above amino acid sequences, or an amino acid sequence comprising as a part any of the above amino acid sequences.

Abstract: This invention is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving protease. The vWF-specific cleaving protease cleaves a bond between residues Tyr 842 and Met 843 of vWF and comprises a polypeptide chain having Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 1) as a partial sequence, and more preferably comprises a polypeptide chain having the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of a mature protein, Ala-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ile-Leu-His-Leu-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 2), and having a molecular weight of 105 to 160 kDa in SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions. Isolation and identification of this vWF-specific cleaving protease have led to the possibility of replacement therapy for patients having diseases resulting from a deficiency of the protease, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Abstract: The activated Factor XI is provided as an antitussive for cough caused by the stimulation at the tracheal bifurcation such as chronic cough. A pharmaceutical composition for prevention, treatment and/or symptom amelioration of cough, comprising a polypeptide chain as an active ingredient and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the polypeptide chain consists of a full length amino acid sequence constituting activated Factor XI (hereinafter also referred to as “FXIa”), the amino acid sequence with one or several amino acids therein being deleted, substituted or added, or a partial sequence of either of the above amino acid sequences, or an amino acid sequence comprising as a part any of the above amino acid sequences.

Abstract: This invention is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving protease. The vWF-specific cleaving protease cleaves a bond between residues Tyr 842 and Met 843 of vWF and comprises a polypeptide chain having Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 1) as a partial sequence, and more preferably comprises a polypeptide chain having the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of a mature protein, Ala-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ile-Leu-His-Leu-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 2), and having a molecular weight of 105 to 160 kDa in SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions. Isolation and identification of this vWF-specific cleaving protease have led to the possibility of replacement therapy for patients having diseases resulting from a deficiency of the protease, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an antibody showing immunoreactivity selectively to ADAMTS-13 and applications of this antibody in epitope analysis or diagnosis of an ADAMTS-13 autoantibody-positive patient. Alternatively, it is intended to provide a process for producing and use of a modified ADAMTS-13 molecule partially deleted aiming at the application in pharmaceutical products. An antibody specific for ADAMTS-13 which can be obtained from a warm-blooded animal immunized and sensitized with a polypeptide containing a part or the whole of ADAMTS-13 amino acid sequence; a process for producing an antibody comprising a step of immunizing and sensitizing a warm-blooded animal with a polypeptide containing a part or the whole of ADAMTS-13 amino acid sequence; use of the above-described antibody including a method of detecting and purifying ADAMTS-13; and a modified ADAMTS-13 molecule partially deleted are provided.

Abstract: This invention is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving protease. The vWF-specific cleaving protease cleaves a bond between residues Tyr 842 and Met 843 of vWF and comprises a polypeptide chain having Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 1) as a partial sequence, and more preferably comprises a polypeptide chain having the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of a mature protein, Ala-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ile-Leu-His-Leu-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 2), and having a molecular weight of 105 to 160 kDa in SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions. Isolation and identification of this vWF-specific cleaving protease have led to the possibility of replacement therapy for patients having diseases resulting from a deficiency of the protease, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Abstract: This invention is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving protease. The vWF-specific cleaving protease cleaves a bond between residues Tyr 842 and Met 843 of vWF and comprises a polypeptide chain having Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 1) as a partial sequence, and more preferably comprises a polypeptide chain having the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of a mature protein, Ala-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ile-Leu-His-Leu-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 2), and having a molecular weight of 105 to 160 kDa in SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions. Isolation and identification of this vWF-specific cleaving protease have led to the possibility of replacement therapy for patients having diseases resulting from a deficiency of the protease, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an antibody showing immunoreactivity selectively to ADAMTS-13 and applications of this antibody in epitope analysis or diagnosis of an ADAMTS-13 autoantibody-positive patient. Alternatively, it is intended to provide a process for producing and use of a modified ADAMTS-13 molecule partially deleted aiming at the application in pharmaceutical products. An antibody specific for ADAMTS-13 which can be obtained from a warm-blooded animal immunized and sensitized with a polypeptide containing a part or the whole of ADAMTS-13 amino acid sequence; a process for producing an antibody comprising a step of immunizing and sensitizing a warm-blooded animal with a polypeptide containing a part or the whole of ADAMTS-13 amino acid sequence; use of the above-described antibody including a method of detecting and purifying ADAMTS-13; and a modified ADAMTS-13 molecule partially deleted are provided.

Abstract: This invention is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving protease. The vWF-specific cleaving protease cleaves a bond between residues Tyr 842 and Met 843 of vWF and comprises a polypeptide chain having Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val as a partial sequence, and more preferably comprises a polypeptide chain having the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of a mature protein, Ala-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ile-Leu-His-Leu-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val, and having a molecular weight of 105 to 160 kDa in SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions. Isolation and identification of this vWF-specific cleaving protease have led to the possibility of replacement therapy for patients having diseases resulting from a deficiency of the protease, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Abstract: This invention is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving protease. The vWF-specific cleaving protease cleaves a bond between residues Tyr 842 and Met 843 of vWF and comprises a polypeptide chain having Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 1) as a partial sequence, and more preferably comprises a polypeptide chain having the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of a mature protein, Ala-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ile-Leu-His-Leu-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 2), and having a molecular weight of 105 to 160 kDa in SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions. Isolation and identification of this vWF-specific cleaving protease have led to the possibility of replacement therapy for patients having diseases resulting from a deficiency of the protease, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Abstract: This invention is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving protease.

Abstract: A process for preparing a peptide fragment having a cell death-inhibitory activity is provided. In order to obtain a selenoprotein P fragment having a cell death-inhibitory activity, full-length selenoprotein P was reacted with various serine proteinases and the resulting fragments were electrophoresed and assessed for a cell death-inhibitory activity. A process for preparing a selenoprotein P fragment was established by identifying an enzyme that produced bands corresponding to a molecular weight of not more than 3.5×104 in electrophoresis. A process for preparing a peptide fragment having a cell death-inhibitory activity according to the present invention may be used for amelioration, treatment and prevention of diseases caused by cell death and for more efficient production of useful living substances.

Abstract: A method for activating prothrombin to thrombin is presented which comprises treating an aqueous solution containing prothrombin with polyethylene glycol in the presence or absence of the calcium salt. The method enables conversion of prothrombin to thrombin in the absence of thromboplastin and allows for preparation of thrombin on an industrially large scale from easily available starting materials.

Abstract: A culture medium without or with a low level of protein for culturing a transformed animal cell capable of continuously producing a protein prepared by using a genetic engineering technique, which contains a nonionic surfactant and cyclodextrin, and a method for producing a protein which comprises culturing a transformed animal cell capable of producing the desired protein prepared by using a genetic engineering technique in the culture medium.