Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) comprising cytokeratin 18 protein as an active ingredient. The present invention also provides a diagnostic composition and a diagnostic kit for diagnosing COPD comprising cytokeratin 18 protein. The present invention further provides a composition for screening a therapeutic agent for COPD, comprising one or more of cytokeratin 18 protein or autoantibodies to cytokeratin 18 obtained from patients with COPD and a method for screening a therapeutic agent for COPD using this composition. The present invention still further provides methods for diagnosing, preventing or treating COPD using cytokeratin 18 protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating allergic diseases comprising histamine and allergen-specific antibody as active ingredients. Also, the present invention provides a use of the above composition for the manufacture of medicament for preventing or treating allergic diseases. Further, the present invention provides a method of preventing or treating allergic diseases which comprises administrating the above pharmaceutical composition to a mammal. When the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is administered to a mammal, a specific allergic immune response (hypersensitive immune response) to antigen inducing allergic reaction (allergen) that can not be effectively controlled by current standard pharmacological treatments can be effectively suppressed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) comprising cytokeratin 18 protein as an active ingredient. The present invention also provides a diagnostic composition and a diagnostic kit for diagnosing COPD comprising cytokeratin 18 protein. The present invention further provides a composition for screening a therapeutic agent for COPD, comprising one or more of cytokeratin 18 protein or autoantibodies to cytokeratin 18 obtained from patients with COPD and a method for screening a therapeutic agent for COPD using this composition. The present invention still further provides methods for diagnosing, preventing or treating COPD using cytokeratin 18 protein.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating chronic inflammatory airway diseases comprising alpha-enolase protein as an active ingredient is provided. The present invention also provides a diagnostic composition and a diagnostic kit for diagnosing chronic inflammatory airway diseases comprising alpha-enolase protein. The present invention further provides a composition for screening a therapeutic agent for chronic inflammatory airway diseases, comprising one or more of alpha-enolase protein or autoantibodies to alpha-enolase obtained from patients with chronic inflammatory airway diseases, and a method for screening a therapeutic agent for chronic inflammatory airway diseases using this composition. The present invention still further provides methods for diagnosing, preventing or treating chronic inflammatory airway diseases using alpha-enolase protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising histamine, immunoglobulin and allergen as active ingredients. Also, the present invention provides a kit for treating allergic diseases comprising the above active ingredients. The present invention also provides use of a composition comprising histamine, immunoglobulin and allergen as active ingredients for the manufacture of medicament for treating allergic diseases. Further, the present invention provides a method of treating allergic diseases which comprises administrating the pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of histamine, immunoglobulin and allergen to a mammal.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the surprising discovery of autoantibodies to cytokeratin 18 protein in the serum samples of patients with bronchial asthma and chronic rhinitis, especially in nonallergic patients. The present invention includes diagnostic methods and a diagnostic kit to detect patients with bronchial asthma and chronic rhinitis associated with autoantibodies to cytokeratin 18. The invention also includes methods and kits to prescribe or monitor treatment for patients with bronchial asthma and chronic rhinitis by detecting autoantibodies to cytokeratin 18. The present invention also includes a pharmaceutical formulation comprising cytokeratin 18 protein to protect patients with bronchial asthma and chronic rhinitis associated with autoantibodies to cytokeratin 18.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the surprising discovery of autoantibodies to cytokeratin 18 protein in the serum samples of patients with bronchial asthma and chronic rhinitis, especially in nonallergic patients. The present invention includes diagnostic methods and a diagnostic kit to detect patients with bronchial asthma and chronic rhinitis associated with autoantibodies to cytokeratin 18. The invention also includes methods and kits to prescribe or monitor treatment for patients with bronchial asthma and chronic rhinitis by detecting autoantibodies to cytokeratin 18. The present invention also includes a pharmaceutical formulation comprising cytokeratin 18 protein to protect patients with bronchial asthma and chronic rhinitis associated with autoantibodies to cytokeratin 18.