| 摘要 |
<p>The present invention is based on the pioneering finding that inhibition of expression of certain genes counteracts the cytokine-induced cell death. As long as these genes function normally, cytokine induces cell death; once the expression of said genes in inhibit, the cytokineinduced cell death is inhibited. It follows therefrom that the normal expression is cytokine-induced cell death. In HeLa cells IFN-y induces a biphasic process, which comprises an initial cytostatic phase and a subsequent cytotoxic phase (programmed cell death). The novel genes discovered in accordance with the present invention were found to affect only the later, cytotoxic phase. These genes, referred to as "DAP" (death-associated protein) genes, include DNA molecules which comprise a coding sequence encoding the expression products of the DAP genes or expression products having a similar biological activity, and are at times collectively referred to as "DAP DNA molecules". The expression products of the DAP DNA molecules will be referred to herein at times collectively as "DAP products".</p> |
