Novel protein and DNA thereof

Abstract

The protein of the present invention and a DNA encoding the same can be used as therapeutic/prophylactic agents for diseases such as infectious diseases. The protein of the present invention is also useful as a reagent for screening a compound or its salt capable of promoting or inhibiting the activity of the protein of the present invention. Furthermore, a compound or its salt inhibiting the activity of the protein of the present invention and a neutralization antibody inhibiting the activity of the protein of the present invention can also be used as therapeutic/prophylactic agents for diseases such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.

1 . An isolated antibody which specifically binds to a protein containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated antibody which specifically binds to a protein containing the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a partial peptide of the protein, or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         3 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . An antibody against a protein containing the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a salt thereof:  
     
     
         14 . A method of screening a test compound or a salt thereof to screen if said compound promotes or inhibits the activity of a protein having the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:1, or the partial peptide or a salt thereof, which comprises contacting said test compound to said protein under conditions suitable for the activity of said protein, and screening for the activity of said protein.  
     
     
         15 . A kit for screening a test compound or a salt thereof to detect if said compound promotes or inhibits the activity of a protein having the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:1, or the partial peptide or a salt thereof, comprising a protein having the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:1, or the partial peptide or a salt thereof, and instructions for screening.  
     
     
         16 - 17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . A method of screening a test compound or a salt thereof to detect if said compound promotes or inhibits the activity of a protein containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 18, its partial peptide, or a salt thereof, which comprises contacting said test compound to said protein under conditions suitable for the activity of said protein, detecting the activity of said protein.  
     
     
         19 . A kit for screening a test compound or a salt thereof to detect if said compound promotes or inhibits the activity of a protein containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 18, its partial peptide, or a salt thereof, comprising the protein containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 18, its partial peptide, or a salt thereof, and instructions for screening.  
     
     
         20 - 25 . (canceled)  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 14 , which comprises comparing: 
 (i) the case where a chitinase substrate is brought into contact with a protein having the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:1, its precursor protein, its partial peptide, or salt thereof, and    (ii) the case where a chintinase substrate and a test compound are brought into contact with a protein having the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:1, its precursor protein, its partial peptide, or salt thereof.    
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , which comprises comparing: 
 (i) the case where a chintinase substrate is brought into contact with a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, or its partial peptide or salt thereof, and    (ii) the case where a chintinase substrate and a test compound are brought into contact with a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, or its partial peptide or salt thereof.    
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 14 , which comprises comparing: 
 (i) the case where an eosinophil is brought into contact with a protein having the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:1, its precursor protein, its partial peptide or salt thereof, and    (ii) the case where an eosinophil and a test compound are brought into contact with a protein having the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:1, its precursor protein, its partial peptide or salt thereof.    
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , which comprises comparing: 
 (i) the case where an eosinophil is brought into contact with a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No:1, or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, its precursor protein, its partial peptide or salt thereof, and    (ii) the case where an eosinophil and a test compound are brought into contact with a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, its precursor protein, its partial peptide or salt thereof.    
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 18 , which comprises comparing: 
 (i) the case where an eosinophil is brought into contact with the protein containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:18, its precursor protein, its partial peptide, or salt thereof, and    (ii) the case where an eosinophil and a test compound are brought into contact with the protein containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:18, its precursor protein, its partial peptide, or salt thereof.    
     
     
         31 . A method for treating or preventing immune diseases or infectious diseases by promoting the activity of a protein containing the same or substaintially the same amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:1, its partial peptide, or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         32 . A method for treating or preventing lung/chest diseases accompanied by the inflammation of the lung/airways by inhibiting the activity of a protein containing the same or substaintially the same amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:1, its partial peptide, or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the lung/chest diseases accompanied by inflammation of the lung/airways is bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  
     
     
         34 . A method for treating or preventing lung/chest diseases accompanied by the inflammation of the lung/airways by inhibiting the activity of a protein containing the same or substaintially the same amino acid sequence as SEQ ID NO:18, its partial peptide, or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the lung/chest diseases accompanied by inflammation of the lung/airways is bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.