The present invention relates to a screening method/screening kit for
screening a compound or its salt that changes the binding properties of
(a) a protein containing the same or substantially the same amino acid
sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID
NO: 19, its partial peptides, or salts thereof, and (b) a ligand capable
of binding specifically to the protein; compounds obtained by the
screening or salts thereof; pharmaceuticals comprising the compounds or
salts thereof; a protein containing the same or substantially the same
amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:
19; etc. The compounds obtained by the screening of the present invention
are useful as agents for the prevention/treatment of, for example,
neurodegenerative diseases, immunological diseases, edema, acid
indigestion, etc.