Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition containing an extract from inflammatory tissue inoculated with vaccinia virus may be used to suppress the death of cells caused by endotoxin, and suppress excessive production of nitrogen monoxide induced by endotoxin. The extract may also be used to relieve hypotension induced by endotoxin. In sepsis and other serious bacterial infectious diseases, endotoxin (an intracellular toxin) is produced and a shock symptom is induced by its action. The extract, having an excellent inhibitory action toward endotoxin-induced toxicity, is quite useful for the treatment or the prevention of endotoxin-induced shock symptoms, sepsis and various symptoms accompanied thereby. In addition, the extract has an inhibitory action towards abnormal nitrogen monoxide production during the diseased state and, therefore, it is also useful as a therapeutic and preventive agent for diseases wherein an excessive nitrogen monoxide production occurs, such as acute hypotension.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preventing or treating autoimmune diseases in a mammal which comprises administering to the mammal an effective amount of at least one furanone derivative of the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein X is hydrogen, hydroxy, a lower alkyl group or a lower alkylene group; Y is hydrogen, hydroxy or a lower alkyl group; Z is hydrogen, a lower alkyl group or a lower hydroxyalkyl group; and the broken line represents the presence or absence of a second bond;or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing or treating inflammation in a mammal which comprises administering to the mammal an effective amount of at least one furanone derivative of the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein X is hydrogen, hydroxy, a lower alkyl group or a lower alkylene group; Y is hydrogen, hydroxy or a lower alkyl group; Z is hydrogen, a lower alkyl group or a lower hydroxyalkyl group; and the broken line represents the presence or absence of a second bond; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.