Abstract:
It is intended to clarify a molecule which is available as a target in treating or diagnosing cancer and utilize the molecule in the medical field or the research field. By treating IgSF4, which has been identified as a molecule specifically expressed in lung cancer cells, with an antibody, an ADCC activity is exerted. Based on this finding, an anti-IgSF4 antibody is provided as a means efficacious in treating cancer, etc.
Abstract:
The presence of DH genes belonging to any of the DH gene families DA, DK and DIR has been proved and DNA fragments containing at least one of these DH genes have been cloned. The DNA fragments are useful as a probe in the screening and identification of various DH genes and as a gene arrangement to be used in various genetic engineering techniques for the artificial preparation of immunoglobulins having various amino acids at specified sites. Furthermore the use of these DNA fragments makes it possible to detect and analyze rejoining parts of VHDHJH and utilize DNA fragments selected on the basis of the DNA sequences thus clarified as the tumor marker, thereby allowing the detection of tumor cells of the B-cell or T-cell type, or the diagnosis of lymphoid tumor, leukemia, etc.
Abstract:
Specific DNA sequences such as sigma), sigma)3, sigma)1, sigma)2 and sigma)4 different from switch sequences conventionally known in subclass production of antibody are cloned, and the DNA sequences themselves and DNA sequences homologous therewith are revealed from the obtained clones. It is clarified by using the clones that SIGMA) gene having homology with sigma) and SIGMA) gene having homology with sigma) exist adjacent to each other in the region between Cmu and Cdelta (SIGMA region), and their functions in class switch are being demonstrated. The clones of the present invention enables specific control of production of a subclass of antibody against various type and kind of antigen.