SELECTIVE CHEMOKINE MODULATION

摘要

THE PRESENT INVENTION TEACHES THE USE OF A METAL OR AN OXIDE OF A METAL HAVING A CAPABILITY OF REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF THE CHEMOKINE IP-IO IN A SAMPLE AND/OR REDUCING THE PRODUCTION OF IP-IO IN CELLS. THE METAL IS A METAL OF GROUP 4 OR 5 IN THE PERIOD TABLE OF THE ELEMENTS AND PREFERABLY TITANIUM. THESE METALS AND METAL OXIDES CAN SELECTIVELY BIND IP-IO TO ITS SURFACE TO THEREBY SCAVENGE IP-IO FROM THE SURROUNDING MEDIUM. IN ADDITION, A METAL-CELL CONTACT INDUCES A REDUCTION IN THE PRODUCTION OF IP-IO FROM IP-IO PRODUCING CELLS. THE METALS AND METAL OXIDES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION CAN THEREFORE BE USED FOR TREATING AND/OR PREVENTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS CHARACTERIZED BY ADVERSE IP-IO EXPRESSION, SUCH AS INFLAMMATORY REACTIONS.