Abstract: An antibody binding to IPC was obtained by using an animal cell in which a cell membrane protein associatable with ILT7 was co-expressed as an immunogen. The antibody of the invention has a high specificity which allows immunological distinction between other ILT family molecules and ILT7. The anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention bound to IPC and inhibited the activity thereof. With the anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention, the IPC activity can be inhibited and an interferon-related disease can be treated or prevented. ILT7 expression is maintained even in IPC in the presence of IFN?. Therefore, an inhibitory action of IPC activity by the anti-ILT7 antibody can be expected even in an autoimmune disease patient with an increased production of IFN?.

Abstract: An antibody binding to IPC was obtained by using an animal cell in which a cell membrane protein associatable with ILT7 was co-expressed as an immunogen. The antibody of the invention has a high specificity which allows immunological distinction between other ILT family molecules and ILT7. The anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention bound to IPC and inhibited the activity thereof. With the anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention, the IPC activity can be inhibited and an interferon-related disease can be treated or prevented. ILT7 expression is maintained even in IPC in the presence of IFN?. Therefore, an inhibitory action of IPC activity by the anti-ILT7 antibody can be expected even in an autoimmune disease patient with an increased production of IFN?.

Abstract: An antibody binding to IPC was obtained by using an animal cell in which a cell membrane protein associatable with ILT7 was co-expressed as an immunogen. The antibody of the invention has a high specificity which allows immunological distinction between other ILT family molecules and ILT7. The anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention bound to IPC and inhibited the activity thereof. With the anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention, the IPC activity can be inhibited and an interferon-related disease can be treated or prevented. ILT7 expression is maintained even in IPC in the presence of IFN?. Therefore, an inhibitory action of IPC activity by the anti-ILT7 antibody can be expected even in an autoimmune disease patient with an increased production of IFN?.

Abstract: BST2 antibodies were selected by using as an indicator the binding between BST2 antibodies and various splicing variants of human BST2 antigen. As a result, the present inventors successfully obtained BST2 antibodies that specifically recognize BST2D, which has been reported to be expressed at high levels in cancer cells. The antibodies of the present invention specifically bind to cells expressing BST2D. Non-specific antibody binding to non-target tissues, which results in the decrease of antibody concentration in blood, can be prevented by using the antibodies of the present invention therapeutically. Alternatively, the present invention provides diagnostic agents comprising an antibody of the present invention, which specifically detect tissues expressing BST2D.

Abstract: An antibody binding to IPC was obtained by using an animal cell in which a cell membrane protein associatable with ILT7 was co-expressed as an immunogen. The antibody of the invention has a high specificity which allows immunological distinction between other ILT family molecules and ILT7. The anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention bound to IPC and inhibited the activity thereof. With the anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention, the IPC activity can be inhibited and an interferon-related disease can be treated or prevented. ILT7 expression is maintained even in IPC in the presence of IFN?. Therefore, an inhibitory action of IPC activity by the anti-ILT7 antibody can be expected even in an autoimmune disease patient with an increased production of IFN?.

Abstract: BST2 antibodies were selected by using as an indicator the binding between BST2 antibodies and various splicing variants of human BST2 antigen. As a result, the present inventors successfully obtained BST2 antibodies that specifically recognize BST2D, which has been reported to be expressed at high levels in cancer cells. The antibodies of the present invention specifically bind to cells expressing BST2D. Non-specific antibody binding to non-target tissues, which results in the decrease of antibody concentration in blood, can be prevented by using the antibodies of the present invention therapeutically. Alternatively, the present invention provides diagnostic agents comprising an antibody of the present invention, which specifically detect tissues expressing BST2D.

Abstract: An antibody binding to IPC was obtained by using an animal cell in which a cell membrane protein associatable with ILT7 was co-expressed as an immunogen. The antibody of the invention has a high specificity which allows immunological distinction between other ILT family molecules and ILT7. The anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention bound to IPC and inhibited the activity thereof. With the anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention, the IPC activity can be inhibited and an interferon-related disease can be treated or prevented. ILT7 expression is maintained even in IPC in the presence of IFN?. Therefore, an inhibitory action of IPC activity by the anti-ILT7 antibody can be expected even in an autoimmune disease patient with an increased production of IFN?.

Abstract: The present invention provides agents for regulating the activity of interferon-producing cells (IPCs), which comprise as active ingredients antibodies that bind to BST2 and/or to its homologues, and methods for regulating IPC activity that use these antibodies. According to the present invention, the ability of IPCs to produce interferons (IFNs) and the number of cells can be directly regulated. The present invention also provides uses of BST2 and/or its homologues as markers for IPC activation. Compounds that regulate IPC activation can be screened using the markers for IPC activation.

Abstract: An antibody binding to IPC was obtained by using an animal cell in which a cell membrane protein associatable with ILT7 was co-expressed as an immunogen. The antibody of the invention has a high specificity which allows immunological distinction between other ILT family molecules and ILT7. The anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention bound to IPC and inhibited the activity thereof. With the anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention, the IPC activity can be inhibited and an interferon-related disease can be treated or prevented. ILT7 expression is maintained even in IPC in the presence of IFN?. Therefore, an inhibitory action of IPC activity by the anti-ILT7 antibody can be expected even in an autoimmune disease patient with an increased production of IFN?.

Abstract: An antibody binding to IPC was obtained by using an animal cell in which a cell membrane protein associatable with ILT7 was co-expressed as an immunogen. The antibody of the invention has a high specificity which allows immunological distinction between other ILT family molecules and ILT7. The anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention bound to IPC and inhibited the activity thereof. With the anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention, the IPC activity can be inhibited and an interferon-related disease can be treated or prevented. ILT7 expression is maintained even in IPC in the presence of IFN?. Therefore, an inhibitory action of IPC activity by the anti-ILT7 antibody can be expected even in an autoimmune disease patient with an increased production of IFN?.

Abstract: BST2 antibodies were selected by using as an indicator the binding between BST2 antibodies and various splicing variants of human BST2 antigen. As a result, the present inventors successfully obtained BST2 antibodies that specifically recognize BST2D, which has been reported to be expressed at high levels in cancer cells. The antibodies of the present invention specifically bind to cells expressing BST2D. Non-specific antibody binding to non-target tissues, which results in the decrease of antibody concentration in blood, can be prevented by using the antibodies of the present invention therapeutically. Alternatively, the present invention provides diagnostic agents comprising an antibody of the present invention, which specifically detect tissues expressing BST2D.

Abstract: An antibody binding to IPC was obtained by using an animal cell in which a cell membrane protein associatable with ILT7 was co-expressed as an immunogen. The antibody of the invention has a high specificity which allows immunological distinction between other ILT family molecules and ILT7. The anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention bound to IPC and inhibited the activity thereof. With the anti-ILT7 antibody of the invention, the IPC activity can be inhibited and an interferon-related disease can be treated or prevented. ILT7 expression is maintained even in IPC in the presence of IFN?. Therefore, an inhibitory action of IPC activity by the anti-ILT7 antibody can be expected even in an autoimmune disease patient with an increased production of IFN?.

Abstract: The present invention provides agents for regulating the activity of interferon-producing cells (IPCs), which comprise as active ingredients antibodies that bind to BST2 and/or to its homologues, and methods for regulating IPC activity that use these antibodies. According to the present invention, the ability of IPCs to produce interferons (IFNs) and the number of cells can be directly regulated. The present invention also provides uses of BST2 and/or its homologues as markers for IPC activation. Compounds that regulate IPC activation can be screened using the markers for IPC activation.