Abstract: A novel and effective strategy for organ transplantation is provided. A therapeutic agent and method for preventing an acute rejection in a transplanted organ and improving prognosis are provided. A therapeutic agent for suppressing a rejection in organ transplantation, which comprises an NF-?B decoy compound, is provided. Representatively, the organ transplantation is kidney transplantation. The therapeutic agent further comprises an ultrasonic inspection contrast agent. A therapeutic agent for improving prognosis in organ transplantation is also provided. The therapeutic agent is administered into a donor organ. The transfection efficiency of the NF-?B decoy compound into the organ may be enhanced by ultrasound treatment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a therapeutic agent containing as an active ingredient an HGF gene used for therapy of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury, diabetic peripheral neuritis, and ischemic cerebrovascular disorders (cerebral infarction, cerebral haemorrhage, etc.) More specifically, the present invention provides a therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases, containing a hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a therapeutic preventive agent that includes an angiogenic factor gene (such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)) as its active ingredient, and the administration of such an agent into the targeted skin diseases-affected area.

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of oligodeoxynucleotide decoys for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of diseases associated with the binding of endogenous transcription factors to genes involved in cell growth, differentiation and signalling or to viral genes. By inhibiting endogenous trans-activating factors from binding transcription regulatory regions, the decoys modulate gene expression and thereby regulating pathological processes including inflammation, intimal hyperplasia, angiogenesis, neoplasia, immune responses and viral infection. The decoys are administered in amounts and under conditions whereby binding of the endogenous transcription factor to the endogenous gene is effectively competitively inhibited without significant host toxicity. The subject compositions comprise the decoy molecules in a context which provides for pharmacokinetics sufficient for effective therapeutic use.

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of oligodeoxynucleotide decoys for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of diseases associated with the binding of endogenous transcription factors to genes involved in cell growth, differentiation and signalling or to viral genes. By inhibiting endogenous trans-activating factors from binding transcription regulatory regions, the decoys modulate gene expression and thereby regulating pathological processes including inflammation, intimal hyperplasia, angiogenesis, neoplasia, immune responses and viral infection. The decoys are administered in amounts and under conditions whereby binding of the endogenous transcription factor to the endogenous gene is effectively competitively inhibited without significant host toxicity. The subject compositions comprise the decoy molecules in a context which provides for pharmacokinetics sufficient for effective therapeutic use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medicament comprising a HGF gene. The medicament of the present invention may be topically applied to the target organs so that the effects can be selectively exhibited, resulting in minimizing the side effects of HGF.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for performing treatment against a skin disease, the pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one decoy and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The at least one decoy may be selected from the group consisting of an NF-&kgr;B decoy, a STAT-1 decoy, a GATA-3 decoy, a STAT-6 decoy, an AP-1 decoy and an Ets decoy. The at least one decoy may be an oligonucleotide including at least two decoys bonded to each other, the at least two decoys being selected from the group consisting of an NF-&kgr;B decoy, a STAT-1 decoy, a GATA-3 decoy, a STAT-6 decoy, an AP-1 decoy and an Ets decoy. The skin disease may be atopic dermatitis, psoriasis vulgaris, contact dermatitis, keloid, bedsore, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease.

Abstract: Administration of a decoy, i.e. a compound which specifically antagonizes the nucleic acid domain to which NF-&kgr;B is bound, is effective in the treatment and prevention of diseases caused by the transcriptional regulatory factor NF-&kgr;B, such as ischemic diseases, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer metastasis and invasion, and cachexia.

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of oligodeoxynucleotide decoys for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of diseases associated with the binding of endogenous transcription factors to genes involved in cell growth, differentiation and signalling or to viral genes. By inhibiting endogenous trans-activating factors from binding transcription regulatory regions, the decoys modulate gene expression and thereby regulating pathological processes including inflammation, intimal hyperplasia, angiogenesis, neoplasia, immune responses and viral infection. The decoys are administered in amounts and under conditions whereby binding of the endogenous transcription factor to the endogenous gene is effectively competitively inhibited without significant host toxicity. The subject compositions comprise the decoy molecules in a context which provides for pharmacokinetics sufficient for effective therapeutic use.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition is provided for treatment and/or prevention of a disease, a disorder and/or a condition caused by expression of a gene controlled by NF-&kgr;B or ets. The composition comprises at least one decoy and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The decoy is an NF-&kgr;B decoy, an ets decoy, or a chimera decoy of NF-&kgr;B and ets. The disease is cerebral aneurysm, cancer, Marfan's syndrome, aortic detachment, post-angioplasty restenosis, chronic articular rheumatism, asthma, atopic dermatitis, nephritis, renal failure, or plaque rupture. Alternatively, the disease is a disease associated with eosinophilic abnormality (e.g., asthma, vascular diseases, allergic diseases, parasite diseases). The pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may be a hydrophilic polymer, a liposome, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medicament comprising a HGF gene. The medicament of the present invention may be topically applied to the target organs so that the effects can be selectively exhibited, resulting in minimizing the side effects of HGF.

Abstract: The feasibility of gene therapy using NO synthase (NOS) to treat peripheral arterial disease was examined. According to the present invention, transfection of NOS vector resulted in a significant increase in blood flow and capillary density. Thus, the present invention provides a method for treating or preventing angiogenesis-dependent conditions by administering a NOS gene in the form of naked DNA.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition is provided for treatment and prevention of a disease caused by expression of a gene controlled by NF-&kgr;B or ets. The composition comprises at least one decoy and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The decoy is an NF-&kgr;B decoy, an ets decoy, or a chimera decoy of NF-&kgr;B and ets. The disease is cerebral aneurysm, cancer, Marfan's syndrome, aortic detachment, post-angioplasty restenosis, chronic articular rheumatism, asthma, atopic dermatitis, nephritis, renal failure, or plaque rupture. The pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may be a hydrophilic polymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for screening drugs inhibiting the expression of OSF-2 gene or the production or function of the protein encoded thereby and therapeutic agents for heart failure having such effects. Useful methods for diagnosing heart failure can be provided by monitoring the expression or variation of said gene or the production of the protein encoded thereby. The present invention also provides transgenic animals with forced expression of OSF-2 gene and methods for studying changes in gene expression or protein production or the functions of various genes or proteins with the progress of the pathology of heart failure using them and novel therapeutic agents for heart failure.

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of oligodeoxynucleotide decoys for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of diseases associated with the binding of endogenous transcription factors to genes involved in cell growth, differentiation and signalling or to viral genes. By inhibiting endogenous trans-activating factors from binding transcription regulatory regions, the decoys modulate gene expression and thereby regulating pathological processes including inflammation, intimal hyperplasia, angiogenesis, neoplasia, immune responses and viral infection. The decoys are administered in amounts and under conditions whereby binding of the endogenous transcription factor to the endogenous gene is effectively competitively inhibited without significant host toxicity. The subject compositions comprise the decoy molecules in a context which provides for pharmacokinetics sufficient for effective therapeutic use.

Abstract: The present invention provides: (1) pharmaceutical compositions for angiogenic therapy which contain, as the active ingredients, at least one substance selected from substances having vasodilating effect and/or platelet aggregation inhibitory effect, and substances producing them; and a gene encoding an angiogenesis factor; (2) agents for potentiating the angiogenic effect of a gene encoding an angiogenesis factor that contain, as the active ingredient, at least one substance selected from substances having vasodilating effect and/or platelet aggregation inhibitory effect and substances producing them; (3) an angiogenic agent which contains a prostacyclin synthase gene as the active ingredient; (4) pharmaceutical compositions for angiogenic therapy which contain ets-1 gene and another gene encoding an angiogenesis factor as the active ingredients; (4) an agent which contain ets 1 gene as the active ingredient for potentiating the angiogenic effect of another gene encoding an angiogenesis factor; and (5) an an

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of oligodeoxynucleotide decoys for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of diseases associated with the binding of endogenous transcription factors to genes involved in cell growth, differentiation and signaling or to viral genes. By inhibiting endogenous trans-activating factors from binding transcription regulatory regions, the decoys modulate gene expression and thereby regulating pathological processes including inflammation, intimal hyperplasia, angiogenesis, neoplasia, immune responses and viral infection. The decoys are administered in amounts and under conditions whereby binding of the endogenous transcription factor to the endogenous gene is effectively competitively inhibited without significant host toxicity. The subject compositions comprise the decoy molecules in a context which provides for pharmacokinetics sufficient for effective therapeutic use.

Abstract: Administration of a decoy, i.e. a compound which specifically antagonizes the nucleic acid domain to which NF-&kgr;B is bound, is effective in the treatment and prevention of diseases caused by the transcriptional regulatory factor NF-&kgr;B, such as ischemic diseases, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer metastasis and invasion, and cachexia.

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of oligodeoxynucleotide decoys for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of diseases associated with the binding of endogenous transcription factors to genes involved in cell growth, differentiation and signalling or to viral genes. By inhibiting endogenous trans-activating factors from binding transcription regulatory regions, the decoys modulate gene expression and thereby regulating pathological processes including inflammation, intimal hyperplasia, angiogenesis, neoplasia, immune responses and viral infection. The decoys are administered in amounts and under conditions whereby binding of the endogenous transcription factor to the endogenous gene is effectively competitively inhibited without significant host toxicity. The subject compositions comprise the decoy molecules in a context which provides for pharmacokinetics sufficient for effective therapeutic use.

Abstract: Administration of a decoy, i.e. a compound which specifically antagonizes the nucleic acid domain to which NF-&kgr;B is bound, is effective in the treatment and prevention of diseases caused by the transcriptional regulatory factor NF-&kgr;B, such as ischemic diseases, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer metastasis and invasion, and cachexia.