Pharmaceutical composition and therapeutic method

Abstract

The object of the present invention is, based on the finding of a novel effect of IL-18, to provide pharmaceutical compositions containing IL-18 and therapeutic methods, for preventing, improving, or treating inflammatory diseases such as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Inflammatory diseases, such as SIRS, can be prevented, improved, or treated by administering the pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention containing IL-18 in an amount which does not bring the decreased interleukin 18 level in either plasma or liver to a higher level than normal.

1 . A pharmaceutical composition for preventing, improving or treating an inflammatory disease, comprising interleukin 18 (IL-18). 
   
   
       2 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the inflammatory disease is systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). 
   
   
       3 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the inflammatory disease is sepsis syndrome. 
   
   
       4 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 3 , wherein the inflammatory disease is septicemia. 
   
   
       5 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the inflammatory disease is an acute lung injury or a multi organ dysfunction syndrome, secondary to SIRS. 
   
   
       6 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition acts independently of interferon γ (IFN-γ). 
   
   
       7 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the inflammatory disease decreases the interleukin 18 level in either plasma or liver. 
   
   
       8 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 7 , wherein said composition does not bring the interleukin 18 level in either plasma or liver having decreased in the inflammatory disease to a higher level than normal. 
   
   
       9 . A therapeutic method for treating a non-human vertebrate individual suffering from an inflammatory disease, comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising interleukin 18 to the vertebrate individual. 
   
   
       10 . The therapeutic method of  claim 9 , wherein the inflammatory disease decreases the interleukin 18 level in either plasma or liver. 
   
   
       11 . The therapeutic method of  claim 10 , comprising the step of administering the pharmaceutical composition comprising IL-18 in an amount which does not bring the interleukin 18 level in either plasma or liver having decreased in the inflammatory disease to a higher level than normal.