Atopic dermatitis inducer

Abstract

An atopic dermatitis inducer binding to a human own IgE antibody and activating mast cells and basophiles, which includes a purified human secretion fraction, or an antigenic molecule or an antigenic determinant in the purified fraction, and obtained through the following steps of: filtering a human secretion, removing insoluble matters and collecting the filtrate; mixing the filtrate with a ConA-affinity carrier and collecting the supernatant; and separating a component having a histamine-releasing activity from the supernatant by column chromatography. This inducer is effective in diagnosing and treating human atopic dermatitis.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
     
     
         9 . A composition activating mast cells and basophils upon binding to a human own IgE antibody and having an atopic dermatitis inducing activity, which is obtained from a human secretion through the following steps of: 
 filtering a human secretion, removing insoluble matters and collecting the filtrate;    mixing the filtrate with a ConA-affinity carrier and collecting the supernatant; and    separating a component having an histamine-releasing activity from the supernatant by column chromatography.    
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the column chromatography is anion exchange column chromatography and/or reverse phase column chromatography.  
     
     
         11 . An antibody prepared by using the composition of  claim 9  as an antigen, and specifically binding to the composition of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         12 . An antibody prepared by using the composition of  claim 10  as an antigen, and specifically binding to the composition of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         13 . A method of diagnosing atopic dermatitis, which comprises testing whether or not an IgE antibody binding to the composition of  claim 9  exists in the serum of a subject and determining that the subject whose serum contains the IgE antibody is a patient with atopic dermatitis or a high-risk individual for atopic dermatitis.  
     
     
         14 . A method of diagnosing atopic dermatitis, which comprises testing whether or not an IgE antibody binding to the composition of  claim 10  exists in the serum of a subject and determining that the subject whose serum contains the IgE antibody is a patient with atopic dermatitis or a high-risk individual for atopic dermatitis.  
     
     
         15 . A method of diagnosing atopic dermatitis, which comprises adding the composition of  claim 9  to a leukocyte fraction collected from the blood of a subject, and determining that the subject is a patient with atopic dermatitis or a high-risk individual for atopic dermatitis from the degree of histamine release in the leukocyte fraction.  
     
     
         16 . A method of diagnosing atopic dermatitis, which comprises adding the composition of  claim 10  to a leukocyte fraction collected from the blood of a subject, and determining that the subject is a patient with atopic dermatitis or a high-risk individual for atopic dermatitis from the degree of histamine release in the leukocyte fraction.  
     
     
         17 . A method of diagnosing atopic dermatitis, which comprises testing whether or not a substance binding to an antibody of  claim 11  exists in a biological sample of a subject, and determining that the subject whose sample contains the substance is a patient with atopic dermatitis or a high-risk individual for atopic dermatitis.  
     
     
         18 . A reagent for determining a high-risk individual for atopic dermatitis, which comprises a patch test material having the composition of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         19 . A reagent for determining a high-risk individual for atopic dermatitis, which comprises a patch test material having the composition of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         20 . A drug for desensitization therapy of atopic dermatitis, which contains the composition of  claim 9  as an active ingredient.  
     
     
         21 . A drug for desensitization therapy of atopic dermatitis, which contains the composition of  claim 10  as an active ingredient.  
     
     
         22 . A kit for diagnosing atopic dermatitis, which contains the composition of  claim 9  as an active ingredient.  
     
     
         23 . A kit for diagnosing atopic dermatitis, which contains the composition of  claim 10  as an active ingredient.  
     
     
         24 . A method of preparing a composition, which is derived from a human secretion, activates mast cells and basophils upon binding to a human own IgE antibody, and has an atopic dermatitis inducing activity, comprising the following steps of: 
 filtering a human secretion, removing insoluble matters and collecting the filtrate;    mixing the filtrate with a ConA-affinity carrier and collecting the supernatant; and    separating a component having an histamine-releasing activity from the supernatant by column chromatography.