| abstract |
An antibody which specifically recognizes a protein containing the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 and inhibits the activity of this protein as a growth factor. Namely, a monoclonal antibody specifically reacting with human VPLF and inhibiting its activity is constructed. This antibody is usable as a remedy or a diagnostic for diseases in which VPLF participates, i.e., diseases associated with abnormal acceleration of angiogenesis, eye diseases based on abnormal angiogenesis, arthritis based on abnormal angiogenesis, skin diseases associated with abnormal angiogenesis, diseases associated with abnormal acceleration of vasopermeability, diseases associated with abnormal differentiation/proliferation of smooth muscular cells, diseases associated with abnormal differentiation/proliferation of kidney mesangial cells, diseases associated with abnormal differentiation/proliferation of blood stem cells, diseases based on abnormality in osteoblasts, diseases based on abnormality in pancreatic ß cells, ischemic diseases and diseases associated with retarded wound healing. |