Inflammatory bowel disease (TBD) is thought to result from inappropriate activation of mucosal immune responses. Recently, further understanding the immunopathophysiology of IBD has provided more specific therapeutic approach such as new drug delivery systems using intestinal microflora, interleukin-7(IL-7)/IL-7R system or inducible-co-stimulator(ICOS) in mucosal T cells as a target for treatment of IBD. Administration of Lactococcus lactis secreting interleukin-10 or antibody against ICOS molecule specifically expressed in the mucosal T cells of intestinal inflammation successfully treated the murine colitis. While it has been demonstrated that intestinal epithelial cells produce IL-7 and that IL-7 serves as a regulatory factor for proliferation of mucosal lymphocytes expressing IL-7R. And intestinal epithelial cell-derived IL-7 plays a crucial role in the organization of mucosal lymphoid tissues and regulating the normal immune response in intestinal mucosa. In a previous study, IL-7 transgenic mice developed chronic colitis, and the essential role of mucosal IL-7/IL-7R-dependent signals was demonstrated in the development of chronic intestinal inflammation. These results indicate that mucosal IL-7/IL-7R-dependent signals are involved in the development of chronic intestinal inflammation in both the mouse model and human disease of the intestinal mucosa. Thus current studies indicate that therapeutic approaches by specific targeting of IL-7R-expressing mucosal T cells may be feasiblein the treatment of human IBD.

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Clinical application of hematopoietic growth factors such as erythropoietin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is useful in the treatment of various diseases. Moreover, molecular targeting therapy is effective in certain hematological diseases. Differentiation therapy of acute promyelocytic leukemia by all-trans retinoic acid, treatment of chronic myeIogenous leukemia by imatinib mesilate, and treatment of B cell malignant lymphoma by anti-CD20 antibody are the most popular treatments in this field.

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by persistent synovial inflammation, resulting in destruction of joints. It has been demonstrated that the pro-inflammatory cytokines play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of RA, raising a hypothesis that the blockade of the cytokine cascade may provide a new therapeutic modalities in the disease. Biological agents inhibiting the function of inflammatory cytokines thus have been developed. Chimeric monoclonal antibody to TNFα(infliximab), full human antibody to TNFα(adalimumab), TNF receptor 2-IgG fusion protein(etanercept), and IL-1 ra(anakinra) are new approved for RA in the states. In 2003, infliximab has just approved for RA in Japan, and we are now facing with the biological era. In this paper, the recent progress of anti-cytokine biological agents is reviewed.

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In twenty first century, some molecular target-based anticancer drugs have been available with our expectation. But there are many negative data in clinical trials contrary to our expectation. Further, they have induced severe adverse event that we did not expect. So we can accurately identify their molecular targets, and demonstrate their efficacy in clinical trials. It is essential to increase the population of well trained medical oncologists who can understand modern molecular biology in order to further improve the treatment results with target based anticancer therapy.

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Pathogenesis of asthma involves various cytokines, which could be a target for asthma therapy. So far, biological agents targeting IL-4, IL-5 and IL-12 have not been successful, while treatment with humanized anti-IgE antibody has been shown to be beneficial for severe athmatics.

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The effects of additives on the strength of hydrogel, consisting of water and hydrophilic polymer produced by crosslinked polyacrylic acid and cellulose derivatives, and its applicability to wound dressing are examined. The hydrogel was produced by crosslinking hydrophilic polymer with aluminum, and it was found that the gel strength could be controlled by the amount of sodium edetate (EDTA) added as the chelating agent. Using the hydrogel samples at different strengths, the effects of the gel strength on the recovery of open wounds of rat dorsal skin were examined. Them was no significant difference in the wound area between the group receiving application of the agent at swelled gel strength of 0.54 g/cm², and the control group. However, the wound area was significantly decreased within 3 days after application of the agent at swelled gel strength of between 2.99 g/cm² and 3.50 g/cm², compared to that of the control group, indicating enhancement of recovery. Physicochemical characteristics that influence to wound healing, of 4 commercially available hydrogel or hydrocolloid wound-dressing materials, of which the clinical effects had been confirmed, and a hydrogel wound-dressing material (SG-01) were examined when these materials were involved in recovery of wounds. The adhesion, vapor permeability, and oxygen permeability of SG-01 were within the range of the 4 commercially available materials. The water absorbability and its volume of SG-01, which are related to retention of exudate, were the highest in the 4 commercially available materials at all time points of measurement. These findings suggested that the hydrogel, consisting of polyacrylic acid and cellulose derivatives, at swelled gel strength of 3∼4g/cm², is a new wound-dressing material with the good function of exudate retention.

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