Specific antibody directed to active hepatocyte growth factor activator and method for using the same

Abstract

An antibody which recognizes an active hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA) and does not substantially recognize inactive HGFA is provided. Also disclosed is a monoclonal antibody thereof, and a hybridoma cell line for producing the monoclonal antibody. There is further provided a method for measuring active HGFA using the antibody, and a method for detecting a disease, by detecting or measuring active HGFA using the antibody.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . A method for measuring active HGFA, comprising the step of measuring the active HGFA specifically by an immunological method using one or more kinds of antibodies that recognize an active hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA) and does not substantially recognize inactive HGFA.  
     
     
         13 . A method for measuring active HGFA, comprising the step of measuring the active HGFA specifically by an immunological method using one or more kinds of antibodies that recognize active HGFA activated by limited proteolysis of inactive HGFA, which is a precursor of active HGFA, between arginine at position 407 and isoleucine at a position of 408 counted from the translation initiation amino acid of inactive HGFA, and does not substantially recognize inactive HGFA.  
     
     
         14 . A method for measuring active HGFA, comprising the step of measuring the active HGFA specifically by an immunological method using one or more kinds of antibodies that recognize active HGFA and does not substantially recognize inactive HGFA and a complex of active HGFA and a protease inhibitor.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to any one of  claims 12  to  14 , wherein a specimen to be measured for active HGFA is a biological component collected from a subject or test animal suspected of having a disease.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the disease is organ inflammation, glomerular nephritis, cancer, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, cerebral infarction or thrombosis.  
     
     
         17 . A method for detecting a disease, comprising the step of detecting or measuring active HGFA in a biological component collected from a subject suspected of having a disease.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of organ inflammation, glomerular nephritis, cancer, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, cerebral infarction or thrombosis.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17  or  18 , wherein the biological component is blood or a fraction or processed product thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the biological component is plasma.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the plasma is citrated plasma.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein argatroban is added to the biological component.  
     
     
         23 - 30 . (canceled)