International Immunology Advance Access published online on October 25, 2009
International Immunology, doi:10.1093/intimm/dxp105
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review-article |
The study of allergy by Japanese researchers: a historical perspective
1 Department of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
2 Department of Immune Regulation, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
Correspondence to: T. Takai; E-mail: tostakai{at}idac.tohoku.ac.jp and H. Karasuyama; E-mail: karasuyama.mbch{at}tmd.ac.jp
It has been over a hundred years since Shibasaburo Kitasato and Emil Adolf von Boehring's finding of a serum component that neutralizes bacterial toxins and the subsequent development of antiserum therapy. Over that time, many Japanese researchers have greatly contributed to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms for allergic and inflammatory diseases. This article is aimed at introducing such individual work and how these areas have contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms of allergic reactions.
Keywords: allergy, antibodies, hypersensitivity, IgE, IL-5
Received 5 August 2009, accepted 30 September 2009.