METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY CONTROLLING FUNCTION OF HELPER T CELL

摘要

The object aims to control the function of a helper T cell selectively.  A mouse (SAT-I KO) which is defective in a gene involved in the biosynthesis of ganglioside (a gangluoside GM3 synthetase gene) is produced and analyzed.  As a result, provided are: a method for screening for a substance capable of inducing the selective inhibition of the function of a helper T cell in an immune response, the moderation or inhibition of an excessive immune response caused by the above-mentioned inhibition of the function, i.e., a substance having an immunosuppressing activity, an anti-asthmatic activity and/or an anti-allergic activity; and others.  The method involves inhibiting the production of a sphingoglycolipid in the helper T cell.