COMPOUND HAVING ACTIVITY SUPPRESSING ACTIVATION OF TGF-β RECEPTOR, METHOD OF SCREENING THE SAME, AND COMPOSITION FOR PREVENTION OR TREATMENT OF DISEASE CAUSED BY HEPATITIS C
An object is to provide a compound capable of inhibiting activation of TGF-&bgr； receptors due to HCV, and a screening method for the compound. It has been found that a HCV-derived NS3 protease binds to type I TGF-&bgr； receptor, and this binding results in activation of TGF-&bgr； receptors. Moreover, binding sites between the NS3 protease and type I TGF-&bgr； receptor were identified, and it has been found that antibodies recognizing these binding sites inhibit activation of TGF-&bgr； receptors due to NS3 protease. Furthermore, it has been also found that screening for a compound capable of inhibiting activation of TGF-&bgr； receptors can be performed by using the inhibition of the binding between NS3 protease and type I TGF-&bgr； receptor or the like as an index.
