Abstract: The invention relates to a novel method for selecting an immunosuppressive agent with a less thrombocytopenia effect. According to the invention, a method for selecting an immunosuppressive agent which has a potent immunosuppressive activity but a lower thrombocytopenia effect, said method comprising measuring an IL-2 transcription inhibitory activity in a test cell in to which an IL-2 reporter gene has been introduced in the coexistence of an analyte, while measuring a GATA-1 transcription inhibitory activity in the test cell into which a GATA-1 reporter gene has been introduced in the coexistence of an analyte, and comparing both the transcription inhibitory activities, is provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hematopoietic stem cell proliferating agent comprising IGF-I, a hematopoietic stem cell proliferating agent comprising IGF-I and at least one protein selected from among SCF, M-CSF, and G-CSF, and a method of growing hematopoietic stem cells which comprises culturing hematopoietic stem cells in a medium containing IGF-I and at least one protein selected from the group consisting of SCF and M-CSF. The hematopoietic stem cell proliferating agent of the invention causes hematopoietic stem cells to proliferate in the undifferentiated state whether in vivo or in vitro and can, therefore, be used for amelioration of the cytopenia induced by radiotherapy or chemotherapy using anticancer drugs, prevention of infectious diseases associated with lymphopenia, or in vitro culture for multiplication of hematopoietic stem cells and extrasomatic culture of recombinant stem cells in gene therapy.

Abstract: A gene encoding D-sorbitol dehydrogenase (SLDH); a process for producing SLDH by culturing host cells transformed by an expression vector having the above gene; and a process for processing L-sorbose or 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (2KLGA) by using the above culture. 2KLGA is an important intermediate in the production of L-ascorbic acid. Thus, a process for producing L-ascorbic acid from the 2KLGA obtained by the above process is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provide a gene encoding D-sorbitol dehydrogenase (SLDH), a method for producing SLDH by culture of a host cell transformed with a vector expressing this gene and a method for producing L-sorbose or 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (2KLGA) using the culture. 2KLGA is an important intermediate for the production of L-ascorbic acid. Therefore, the present invention also provides a method for producing L-ascorbic acid from the 2KLGA obtained by the above-mentioned method.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hematopoietic stem cell proliferating agent comprising IGF-I, a hematopoietic stem cell proliferating agent comprising IGF-I and at least one protein selected from among SCF, M-CSF, and G-CSF, and a method of growing hematopoietic stem cells which comprises culturing hematopoietic stem cells in a medium containing IGF-I and at least one protein selected from the group consisting of SCF and M-CSF.

Abstract: Agents for inducing apoptosis comprising a tetrocarcin derivative represented by the following formula (I) or a salt thereof as an active ingredient (---- represents a single bond or a double bond; j and k represent 0 or 1; R1 to R3, R7 to R10 and R14 represent a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group and the like; R4, R11, R12, R13 and R15 to R18 represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a lower alkyl group and the like; R5 and R6 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a lower alkyl group, a group represented by the following formula (B) (R32 represents a formyl group and the like, R33 to R35 represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a lower alkyl group and the like); R19 represents a hydroxyl group, a lower alkoxyl group, a lower alkanoyloxy group and the like). The agents are useful as medicaments for preventive and/or therapeutic treatment of diseases resulting from increased expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, for example, cancers, AIDS and the like.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hematopoietic stem cell proliferating agent comprising IGF-I, a hematopoietic stem cell proliferating agent comprising IGF-I and at least one protein selected from among SCF, M-CSF, and G-CSF, and a method of growing hematopoietic stem cells which comprises culturing hematopoietic stem cells in a medium containing IGF-I and at least one protein selected from the group consisting of SCF and M-CSF.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hematopoietic stem cell proliferating agent comprising IGF-I, a hematopoietic stem cell proliferating agent comprising IGF-I and at least one protein selected from among SCF, M-CSF, and G-CSF, and a method of growing hematopoietic stem cells which comprises culturing hematopoietic stem cells in a medium containing IGF-I and at least one protein selected from the group consisting of SCF and M-CSF. The hematopoietic stem cell proliferating agent of the invention causes hematopoietic stem cells to proliferate in the undifferentiated state whether in vivo or in vitro and can, therefore, be used for amelioration of the cytopenia induced by radiotherapy or chemotherapy using anticancer drugs, prevention of infectious diseases associated with lymphopenia, or in vitro culture for multiplication of hematopoietic stem cells and extrasomatic culture of recombinant stem cells in gene therapy.

Abstract: Agents for inducing apoptosis comprising a tetrocarcin derivative represented by the following formula (I) or a salt thereof as an active ingredient (- - - - represents a single bond or a double bond; j and k represent 0 or 1; R1 to R3, R7 to R10 and R14 represent a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group and the like; R4, R11, R12, R13 and R15 to R18 represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a lower alkyl group and the like; R5 and R6 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a lower alkyl group, a group represented by the following formula (B) (R32 represents a formyl group and the like, R33 to R35 represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a lower alkyl group and the like); R19 represents a hydroxyl group, a lower alkoxyl group, a lower alkanoyloxy group and the like). The agents are useful as medicaments for preventive and/or therapeutic treatment of diseases resulting from increased expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, for example, cancers, AIDS and the like.