HUMANIZED IMMUNOGLOBULIN REACTING SPECIFICALLY WITH Fas LIGAND OR ACTIVE FRAGMENTS THEREOF AND REGION INDUCING APOPTOSIS ORIGINATING IN Fas LIGAND

摘要

Novel humanized immunoglobulins and active fragments thereof which are specifically reactive to Fas ligand are provided, and a site on Fas ligand which is important to inhibit apoptosis induced by the Fas-Fas ligand interaction against Fas-expressing cells is demonstrated. The novel humanized immunoglobulins and active fragments thereof which are specifically reactive to Fas ligand are prepared from hybridomas which produce monoclonal antibodies specifically reactive to Fas ligand, via recombinant DNA techniques. The humanized immunoglobulins can inhibit the physiological reactions between Fas ligand and Fas such as typically apoptosis. Further, identification of the site which is on Fas ligand and responsible for apoptosis induction allows to create recombinant proteins or peptides which are specifically reactive to the amino acids within the site so as to inhibit apoptosis, and to find new therapeutic or diagnostic agents.