New development in molecular genetic and molecular pharmacological studies on intractable intraocular inflammation.

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Association analysis was carried out for the Behcet's disease and the Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. In the 23,465 microsatellite markers on whole genome, 147 markers (0.63%) was picked up as susceptible genes areas of the Behcet's disease. In the VKH disease, which is the popular uveitis in Japan, is known about the strong association with HLA-DR area. However, other association area is detected on the long arm of chromosome 6. We are now analyzing the functions of this area.In refractory intraocular inflammation groups, nitric oxide levels in the aqueous humor and blood were significantly higher than that in the control group. On the other hand, Treatment with antioxidative compounds significantly suppressed ocular inflammation. The results indicate that these compounds show a significant anti-inflammatory effect. For instance, Treatment with the crude extract by blue honeysuckle, the flora of north countries, has a strong anti-oxidative effect, significantly suppressed inflammation in refractory intraocular inflammation model in a dose-dependent manner.Immunomodulatory granulocytapheresis therapy was revealed to be significantly effective to reduce frequency of light threatening ocular inflammatory attacks in Behcet's disease. And it was also indicated that this therapy was effective in the patient especially with less than 5 years duration of the disease from onset.