Galectin-9-secreting cell, and production method and use of the same

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide a cell that can exhibit physiological activity based on galectin-9, a method for producing the cell, and use of the cell. In order to achieve the above object, the cell of the present invention contains galectin-9, and the galectin-9 is expressed on a cell surface.

1 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . A method for isolating a cell capable of secreting galectin-9, the method comprising:
 detecting a cell with galectin-9 on a surface thereof in a tissue of an animal, and isolating the cell from the tissue,   wherein the cell having galectin-9 on a surface thereof is capable of secreting galectin-9.   
     
     
         64 . The method according to  claim 63 , wherein the isolated cell is a T cell. 
     
     
         65 . The method according to  claim 64 , wherein the isolated cell is a CD4 positive T cell. 
     
     
         66 . The method according to  claim 65 , wherein the isolated cell is a follicular B helper T cell (TFH cell). 
     
     
         67 . The method according to  claim 63 , wherein the isolated cell is a γoT cell. 
     
     
         68 . The method according to  claim 63 , wherein the isolated cell is a natural killer cell (NK cell). 
     
     
         69 . The method according to  claim 63 , wherein the isolated cell is a B cell. 
     
     
         70 . The method according to  claim 63 , wherein the isolated cell is a NKT cell. 
     
     
         71 . The method according to  claim 63 , wherein the isolated cell is a conventional dendritic cell (cDC). 
     
     
         72 . The method according to  claim 63 , wherein the isolated cell is a plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC). 
     
     
         73 . The method according to  claim 63 , wherein the isolated cell is a pDC-like macrophage (pDC-Mφ). 
     
     
         74 . The method according to  claim 64 , wherein the isolated cell is capable of increased CD25 expression and galectin-9 and interleukin 10 (IL-10) secretion by T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation. 
     
     
         75 . The method according to  claim 64 , wherein the isolated cell does not express Foxp3. 
     
     
         76 . A method for treating a patient with a tumor, an immune disorder, an allergy, inflammation, transplant rejection, sepsis or an infectious disease comprising administering a pharmaceutical agent comprising a cell having galectin-9 on a surface thereof and capable of secreting galectin-9. 
     
     
         77 . A method of diagnosing the presence of galectin-9 or a galectin-9-binding substance in a patient, comprising
 providing a peripheral blood sample from a patient,   contacting the sample with a reagent that detects the presence of galectin-9 or a galectin-9-binding substance, and   diagnosing the presence of galectin-9 or a galectin-9-binding substance in the patient.   
     
     
         78 . The method according to  claim 77 , wherein the peripheral blood sample is subjected to T-cell receptor stimulation prior to contacting the sample with the reagent. 
     
     
         79 . The method according to  claim 77 , wherein the reagent comprises an anti-galectin-9 antibody and the step of diagnosing comprises measuring anti-galectin-9 antibody binding. 
     
     
         80 . The method according to  claim 79 , wherein the step of diagnosing comprises measuring cells that are positive for at least one of CD4 and CD25. 
     
     
         81 . A method of diagnosing a disease or a symptom caused by a disease in a patient, comprising
 measuring a number of cells having galectin-9 on a surface thereof and capable of secreting galectin-9 in the patient,   comparing the number of cells to a number of cells having galectin-9 on a surface thereof and capable of secreting galectin-9 in a healthy subject,   and diagnosing a disease or a symptom caused by a disease in the patient,   
       wherein the disease or a symptom caused by a disease is an immune disorder, an allergy, inflammation, transplant rejection, sepsis or an infectious disease.