CA2523508A1 — Galectin 9-inducing factors

USPTO Abstract

Galectin 9, which is a physiologically active substance showing an activity as lectin, is expressed in various cells and a correlationship is observed between the expression dose of galectin 9 and tumor metastasis ability. Namely, it is assumed that galectin 9 would relate to various physiological phenomena. Thus, a substance enabling the control of the production and release of galectin 9 is expected as exerting an antitumor activity, an activity of inducing antiinflammatory effect, etc. Therefore, it is required to clarify the same. It is found out that ~a galectin 9-inducing factor~ inducing the production and release of galectin 9 is contained in a certain solubilized tumor cell membrane fraction. This factor can be obtained as a concentrated active fraction with the use of fractionation by concanavalin A-adsorption, Resource QTM ion exchange column, hydroxyapatite column, etc. By using the activity of inducing galectin 9 of this factor, assay reagents, drugs, assays, etc. can be developed.