title: [Study of cytokine signaling: the quest for immunomodulatory drugs interacting with cytokine production and activity].
abstract: I have been engaged in research and education in the fields of immunology and biochemistry at a medical college and college of pharmacy for 40 years. The original reasons why I began studying cytokines and some of the interests that have motivated me to continue working in the field of cytokine research are described: 1) the roles of cytokines in various immunological and inflammatory diseases (e.g., chemokines in bacterial infections and inflammatory diseases, particularly the role of interleukin-5 and eotaxins in eosinophilia); 2) the role of focal adhesion kinase in antiapoptosis and metastasis of melanoma; 3) recent findings on the role of JAK2/STAT pathways, particularly how JAK2V617F mutation induces dysregulated proliferation and tumorigenesis; and 4) the interactions of various chemical compounds and natural products in cytokine gene activation and signaling. Previous discoveries and published findings by my research group are described, along with comments and discussion pertaining to recent developments in the field.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School, International University of Health and Welfare; 1-3-3 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan; Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy; 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan; Division of Inflammation Research, Jichi Medical University; 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasahara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents