Genes whose expression differ between that in eosinophils collected from
atopic dermatitis patients of the exabartation stage and those of the
remission stage were searched via a differential display method. As a
result, NOR-1 (MINOR) gene was successfully identified whose expression
significantly increased in eosinophils of patients in the remission
stage, a stage associated with a decrease of eosinophils. The present
inventors discovered that the gene can be successfully employed in
testing for allergic diseases and screening for candidate compounds for
therapeutic agents.