Tohoku university school of medicine

Various respiratory viruses induce common colds, including rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus. Common colds reduce mental and exercise activities, and affect social and economical activities in young adults. In addition, in older adults, common colds induce bacterial pneumonia and exacerbations of pulmonary emphysema and bronchial asthma, and are associated with death and respiratory failure caused by pneumonia and exacerbations of pulmonary emphysema and bronchial asthma. Common colds also reduce activity of daily life (ADL) and quality of life (QOL). However, agents for treatment and prevention of common colds have not been developed. In our department, we perform various projects to investigate the agents for treatment and prevention of common colds and senile pneumonia, and to establish the regenerative medicine and cell therapy for lung destruction and inflammation.

1)Progress in Geriatrics: Interventions to prevent pneumonia among older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001; 49: 1-6. 2001

2)Pneumonia. In: Antibiotic Therapy for Geriatric Patients. Yoshikawa TT, Pajagopalan S, edt Pp. 83-95, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, U.S.A. 2002

3)Rhinovirus and asthma. Viral Immunol. 2003; 16: 99-109. 2003

4)Is cell therapy in acute lung injury a realistic dream? Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 172: 794-795 2005

5)Intranasal HGF administration ameliorates the physiologic and morphologic changes in lung emphysema. Molecular Therapy 16, 1417 - 1426 2008

Rhinovirus, COPD, aspiration pneumonia, stem cell, regenerative medicine, cell therapy, tissue repair, acute lung injury, RAGE (Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endo-products), translational research