GENE THAT CODES FOR POLYPEPTIDE HAVING ABILITY TO SUPPORT PRE-B CELL PROLIFERATION

摘要

A gene that codes for a polypeptide having the ability to support pre-B cell proliferation, and an adhesion factor comprising a polypeptide having the above ability and containing a sequence of 318 amino acid residues or a part thereof. The above factor is produced by culturing a transformant prepared by transforming a host cell with a vector containing the above gene. The gene codes for a novel adhesion factor that increases the ability to support pre-B cell proliferation on the myeloma or synovial cells of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or multiple myeloma (MM). It is possible to mass produce an adhesion factor having a uniform ability to support pre-B cell proliferation, and hence it is possible to identify MM and RA and to prepare a clinical reagent for diagnosing the same.