Abstract: The present invention provides a method for introducing a gene into a dendritic cell, which includes the step of contacting a minus-strand RNA virus with a dendritic cell. The present invention also provides a method for producing a gene transferred dendritic cell, which includes the step of contacting a minus-strand RNA virus with a dendritic cell. The present invention also provides gene transferred dendritic cells produced by such methods. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for activating a dendritic cell, which includes the step of contacting a minus-strand RNA virus with a dendritic cell. The present invention enables efficient gene delivery into dendritic cells. Dendritic cells introduced with antigen gene or cytokine gene are useful as vaccine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating inflammatory diseases accompanied by bone destruction, comprising the step of administering a viral vector comprising a gene which inhibits signal transduction mediated by fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2)-FGF receptor 1-Ras-Raf-MAP kinase to a diseased region. Furthermore, the present invention relates to therapeutic compositions for inflammatory diseases accompanied by bone destruction, which comprise these vectors. By inhibiting FGF2 signal transduction through local administration of viral vectors, both inflammation and bone destruction in inflammatory bone destruction were simultaneously suppressed. The present invention provides disease-specific and effective therapeutic methods, and therapeutic compositions for inflammatory diseases such as osteoarthritis, for which therapy has so far been difficult.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of transducing a gene into activated T cells comprising the step of contacting a paramyxovirus vector with activated T cells. This invention also provides a method of preparing T cells transduced with a foreign gene comprising the step of contacting a paramyxovirus vector with activated T cells. This invention also provides T cells transduced with a foreign gene prepared by this method. The present invention enables efficient gene transduction specific to activated T cells, and is expected to be applied to immunological modification strategies using T cell-directed gene delivery.

Abstract: The present invention provides Paramyxovirus vectors encoding angiogenic genes and use of the same. The use of Paramyxovirus vectors enables effective transfer of angiogenic genes into individual tissues. FGF2 gene transferred into ischemic tissues in vivo induces expression of angiogenic genes without causing edema, and prevents necrosis due to ischemia. The vectors of the present invention are suitable for gene therapy targeted to ischemic tissues.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retroviral vector containing a membrane protein having a hemagglutinin activity. The present inventors constructed a retroviral vector pseudotyped by the membrane protein having a hemagglutinin activity. This viral vector showed gene transfer at a high efficiency into host cells. In particular, it was established that genes can be transferred thereby at a high efficiency into cells into which genes can hardly be transferred by the conventional techniques, for example, blood cells and hematopoietic cells including hematopoietic stem cells, and mucous cells including mucosa epithelial cells. The viral vector of the present invention is highly useful as a vector for gene therapy.

Abstract: Use of a recombinant Paramyxovirus vector has enabled transferring nucleic acid into the blood vessel at high efficiency by short exposure. The present invention provides a Paramyxovirus vector used for transferring nucleic acid into the vascular cells and a method for transferring nucleic acid using such vector. Pretreatment of blood vessels with protease significantly improved the efficiency of transfection into the medial layer. The expression of transfected genes was stable in the vascular cells for a long period. The method of the present invention enables efficiently transferring genes into tissues such as the blood vessel lumen, media, and adventitia in short time in such applications as gene therapy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for pulmonary hypertension, comprising an antagonistic mutein of MCP-1 or a salt thereof, a DNA molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the antagonistic mutein of MCP-1, or a neutralizing antibody against MCP-1.