Abstract: The mechanism of STAT3, which is considered to play a crucial role in EMT, was elucidated using zebrafish embryos. Unexpectedly, a STAT3 target gene turned out to be zinc transporter LIV1. The present inventors studied the relationship between STAT3 and LIV1 in EMT, and further studied their relationship with zinc finger protein Snail, known for its association with EMT. The results showed that LIV1, whose expression is regulated by STAT3, activated Snail, thereby ultimately inducing EMT. LIV1 can be used as an EMT regulatory agent. Further, because EMT is involved in cancer progression, LIV1 antisense nucleotides and the like may be used as pharmaceuticals for treating cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of screening for substances preventing or treating diseases in association with IL-6 family cytokine receptor malfunction, which comprises using a transgenic mouse or a part thereof expressing a gp130 variant, wherein said gp130 variant comprises a substitution or a deletion of a tyrosine residue, which corresponds to the tyrosine residue at position 759 of human gp130 protein, or a substitution, an insertion or a deletion of one or more amino acid residues in a region comprising said tyrosine residue.

Abstract: A gene encoding a novel membrane protein polypeptide having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability, and a novel membrane protein polypeptide consisting of 180 amino acid residues having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability or a part of it. A method for producing said novel membrane protein polypeptide by preparing transformants by transforming a host cell with a vector containing said gene and culturing said transformants. A monoclonal antibody recognizing said novel membrane protein polypeptide. The above gene encodes the membrane protein having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability. The homogeneous and purified novel membrane protein polypeptide can be produced in large quantities and in addition, monoclonal antibodies recognizing said polypeptide can be produced; thus it becomes possible to identify rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and also prepare reagents for the clinical diagnosis thereof.

Abstract: A gene encoding a novel membrane protein polypeptide having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability and a membrane protein polypeptide consisting of 180 amino acid residues having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability. This gene encodes the membrane protein having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability. A method for producing a membrane protein having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability by transforming a host cell with a vector containing a gene encoding it and culturing the resulting transformants. A monoclonal antibody recognizing this membrane protein. The homogeneous and purified novel membrane protein pelypeptide can be produced in large quantities and used to produce monoclonal antibodies useful for identifying rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and for the preparation of reagents for the clinical diagnosis thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of screening for substances preventing or treating diseases in association with IL-6 family cytokine receptor malfunction, which comprises using a transgenic mouse or a part thereof expressing a gp130 variant, wherein said gp130 variant comprises a substitution or a deletion of a tyrosine residue, which corresponds to the tyrosine residue at position 759 of human gp130 protein, or a substitution, an insertion or a deletion of one or more amino acid residues in a region comprising said tyrosine residue.

Abstract: The present invention provides a monoclonal antibody which binds to a polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 as described herein.

Abstract: A gene encoding a novel membrane protein polypeptide having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability, and a novel membrane protein polypeptide consisting of 180 amino acid residues having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability or a part of it. A method for producing said novel membrane protein polypeptide by preparing transformants by transforming a host cell with a vector containing said gene and culturing said transformants. A monoclonal antibody recognizing said novel membrane protein polypeptide. The above gene encodes the membrane protein having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability. The homogeneous and purified novel membrane protein polypeptide can be produced in large quantities and in addition, monoclonal antibodies recognizing said polypeptide can be produced; thus it becomes possible to identify rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and also prepare reagents for the clinical diagnosis thereof.

Abstract: A gene encoding a novel membrane protein polypeptide having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability, and a novel membrane protein polypeptide consisting of 180 amino acid residues having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability or a part of it. A method for producing said novel membrane protein polypeptide by preparing transformants by transforming a host cell with a vector containing said gene and culturing said transformants. A monoclonal antibody recognizing said novel membrane protein polypeptide.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gene encoding a polypeptide having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability, and an adhesion molecule of the polypeptide consisting of 318 amino acid residues having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability, or a part of it. Said adhesion molecule is produced by preparing transformants such as microorganism or cells by transforming a host cell with a vector containing said gene and culturing said transformants.

Abstract: A gene encoding a novel membrane protein polypeptide having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability, and a novel membrane protein polypeptide consisting of 180 amino acid residues having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability or a part of it. A method for producing said novel membrane protein polypeptide by preparing transformants by transforming a host cell with a vector containing said gene and culturing said transformants. A monoclonal antibody recognizing said novel membrane protein polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides (1) a polypeptide containing amino acids 1 to 269 of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No: 1, (2) polypeptide containing amino acids 1 to 290 of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 1, (3) a polypeptide containing amino acids −28 to 269 of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 1, and (4) a polypeptide containing amino acids −28 to 290 of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 1. The present invention also provides a fusion protein in which residues 1 to 269 of SEQ ID No. 1 are linked to a second polypeptide and a fusion protein in which residues 1 to 290 of SEQ ID No. 1 are linked to a second polypeptide.

Abstract: Isolated DNAs which encode polypeptides having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability.

Abstract: A gene encoding a novel membrane protein polypeptide having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability, and a novel membrane protein polypeptide consisting of 180 amino acid residues having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability, or a part of it. A method for producing the novel membrane protein polypeptide by preparing transformants by transforming a host cell with a vector containing the gene and culturing the transformants. The homogenous and purified novel membrane protein polypeptide can be produced in large quantities and in addition, monoclonal antibodies recognizing said polypeptide can be produced; thus it becomes possible to identify rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and also prepare reagents for the clinical diagnosis thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gene encoding a polypeptide having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability, and an adhesion molecule of the polypeptide consisting of 318 amino acid residues having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability, or a part of it. Said adhesion molecule is produced by preparing transformants such as microorganism or cells by transforming a host cell with a vector containing said gene and culturing said transformants.The above gene encodes the novel adhesion molecule enhancing the pre-B cell growth-supporting ability on the bone marrow cell and the synovial cell derived from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple myeloma (MM). The homogeneous and purified adhesion molecule having pre-B cell growth-supporting ability can be produced in large quantities, and therefore it is possible to identify multiple myeloma (MM) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and also prepare reagents for the clinical diagnosis thereof.

Abstract: A purified human B-cell differentiation factor (BCDF) which does not have a natural signal peptide attached to the N-terminal thereof, DNA encoding the BCDF, transformed cells containing such DNA, a process for producing and obtaining the BCDF, and compositions containing the BCDF are disclosed.

Abstract: A purified human B-cell differentiation factor (BCDF) which does not have a natural signal peptide attached to the N-terminal thereof, DNA encoding the BCDF, transformed cells containing such DNA, a process for producing and obtaining the BCDF, compositions containing the BCDF and various therapeutic uses are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gene which codes for the IL-6 gene expression inducing nuclear factor C/EBP2 capable of binding sequence-specifically to the palindrome structure SEQ ID NO:2 located in the transcriptional regulatory region of the IL-6 gene; an expression plasmid with the C/EBP2 gene incorporated therein; an transformant harboring the expression plasmid; a recombinant C/EBP2 obtained by expressing the C/EBP2 gene; and a method of producing the recombinant C/EBP2.

Abstract: Thrombocytopenia is treated by administering a subject suffering from thrombocytopenia a composition containing human B cell differentiation activity in combination with IL-3.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gene which codes for the IL-6 gene expression inducing nuclear factor C/EBP2 capable of binding sequence-specifically to the palindrome structure SEQ ID NO:2 located in the transcriptional regulatory region of the IL-6 gene; an expression plasmid with the C/EBP2 gene incorporated therein; an transformant harboring the expression plasmid; a recombinant C/EBP2 obtained by expressing the C/EBP2 gene; and a method of producing the recombinant C/EBP2.

Abstract: A composition and a method for supporting bone marrow transplantation are disclosed. The composition comprises a therapeutically acceptable amount of human B cell differentiation factor, or its biological equivalent, optionally in combination with an auxiliary agent selected from IL-1, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, G-CSF, GM-CSF, and M-CSF. The composition also promotes the proliferation of hematopoietic cells in vitro.