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Introduction to immunopharmacology
TiPS - May 1393 [Vol. 141
The science of immunopharmacolL~gy aims to manipulate the immune system by modifying the endogenous immune responses to t:le benefit of the host in the treatment of diseases. The term originally dates from 1959 when .&l&or Szentivanyi used it to reiate the function of the nervous system to the immune system, and throughout the 1960s the term appeared with reference to the radioimmunoassays of drugs and hormones. During the early 1970s the term enlarged to encompass the cyclic nucleotide pharmacology of the immune system. As the decade progressed, imm;lnopharmacology evolved into the preclinical science of immunotherapy and by 1979 two texts had incorporated the into their titles. They name attempted to address the operative definitions of the field and included cyclic nucleotide pharmainflammation pharmacology, immunosuppressive cology. therapy and immunotherapy. In the same year three journals, Ztttttttrttoplzarrttacolog~~, The \ottrtzal of IttztlllrllopllnrllzncOIOgy and Tllc I~~t~rtzarionnl jozuwal of I~7zttttr~zopltnnnacology were launched, establishing the speciality as a distinct branch of science. By the beginning of the 1980s other related immunotherapy journals, such as The Jourrlnl of ltrterferotz Resenrclr, Tile Jottrtrnl of Itrztnutzotherqy and The Interttntionnl ~olrrnnl of lmt~~uno~/temp3/, were initiated. In 1983 the growth of the science was officially recognized by its inclusion as a separate section in Tile \orwnal of Immunology. In parallel with the general trends in pharmacology, immunotoxicology became in vogzre, and by 1986 was incorporated into the journals of the field. In 1990 The Iownnl of Phnrmncology and Exyerimental Thernpelltics followed suit and added a section on immunopharmacology. At the moment approximately 600 papers related to preclinical immunopharmacology are published annually and the thousands of scientists who author these papers reflect the global spread of this area of science. In order to collate this rapidly growing research field, the Itzter-
ttatiottal Society of Immrtttopltarmacology (ISIP) was established in 1980. Since then it has sponsored meetings international five (Brighton, UK, 1980, Washington DC, USA, 1982, Florence, Italy, 1985, Osaka, Japan, 1988 and Tampa, USA, 1991). The average attendance is about 750 scientists, and so far the meetings have contributed to five issues of Anvntlces in Ontnntzopharlllncolog?/. At the time of writing, the field of immunopharmacology includes a multitude of preclinical areas (many of which are discussed in this Special Issue) related to the development of immunotherapy and immunotoxicology. The field is now diverse and interspersed with other related subdisciplines, ;Ithough of course its two parent disciplines remain immunology and pharmacology. Within the context of pharmacology, ISIP is formally affiliated with the Irrterllntiorlnl Urlion of P1znrmncolog?/ (IUPHAR) and efforts are being made to increase
the profile of immunopharmacologv in the mainstream of internat&al pharmacology. In the case of immunology, ISIP is affiliated to the International Uniotz of Immrlnological Societies (IUIS) and work is in progress to highlight immunopharmacology within the discipline, particularly in the field of clinical immunology where the main advances are taking place. Against this background it is with great pleasure that we have had the opportunity to participate in this joint publication between Trends in PItarmacological Sciences and imtnrwtology Today. We hope this forum will define the current advances in the science and provide some insight as to what the future will hold for this exciting branch of medicine. JOHN
W. HADDEN
TADAMITSU
KISHIMOTO
Puesidenf ISIP, Dcpf of Mcdicim If, Osaka Uniuersit!y, Medical School. l-7-50 Flrkrrshim, Osaka, 5.53 /npm.
ecent articles in Immunology Today The coming of age of cuncer radioimmunoconjugates, D. M. Goldenberg and J. Schlom Molecular mechanisms and other autoimmune and K. Haskins
underlying diabetes diseases, R. G. Gill
The mechanism of action of cyclosporin A in the treatment of psoriasis, R. G. Wong, C. M. Winslow and K. D. Cooper Human ZgG Fc receptor heterogeneity: molecular aspects and clinical implications, J. G. J. van de Winkel and P. J. A. Cape1 Can AZDS be prevented by T-cell vaccination?, H. Atlan, M. J. Gersten, P. L. Salk and J. Salk
The science of immunopharmacolL~gy aims to manipulate the immune system by modifying the endogenous immune responses to t:le benefit of the host in the treatment of diseases. The term originally dates from 1959 when .&l&or Szentivanyi used it to reiate the function of the nervous system to the immune system, and throughout the 1960s the term appeared with reference to the radioimmunoassays of drugs and hormones. During the early 1970s the term enlarged to encompass the cyclic nucleotide pharmacology of the immune system. As the decade progressed, imm;lnopharmacology evolved into the preclinical science of immunotherapy and by 1979 two texts had incorporated the into their titles. They name attempted to address the operative definitions of the field and included cyclic nucleotide pharmainflammation pharmacology, immunosuppressive cology. therapy and immunotherapy. In the same year three journals, Ztttttttrttoplzarrttacolog~~, The \ottrtzal of IttztlllrllopllnrllzncOIOgy and Tllc I~~t~rtzarionnl jozuwal of I~7zttttr~zopltnnnacology were launched, establishing the speciality as a distinct branch of science. By the beginning of the 1980s other related immunotherapy journals, such as The Jourrlnl of ltrterferotz Resenrclr, Tile Jottrtrnl of Itrztnutzotherqy and The Interttntionnl ~olrrnnl of lmt~~uno~/temp3/, were initiated. In 1983 the growth of the science was officially recognized by its inclusion as a separate section in Tile \orwnal of Immunology. In parallel with the general trends in pharmacology, immunotoxicology became in vogzre, and by 1986 was incorporated into the journals of the field. In 1990 The Iownnl of Phnrmncology and Exyerimental Thernpelltics followed suit and added a section on immunopharmacology. At the moment approximately 600 papers related to preclinical immunopharmacology are published annually and the thousands of scientists who author these papers reflect the global spread of this area of science. In order to collate this rapidly growing research field, the Itzter-
ttatiottal Society of Immrtttopltarmacology (ISIP) was established in 1980. Since then it has sponsored meetings international five (Brighton, UK, 1980, Washington DC, USA, 1982, Florence, Italy, 1985, Osaka, Japan, 1988 and Tampa, USA, 1991). The average attendance is about 750 scientists, and so far the meetings have contributed to five issues of Anvntlces in Ontnntzopharlllncolog?/. At the time of writing, the field of immunopharmacology includes a multitude of preclinical areas (many of which are discussed in this Special Issue) related to the development of immunotherapy and immunotoxicology. The field is now diverse and interspersed with other related subdisciplines, ;Ithough of course its two parent disciplines remain immunology and pharmacology. Within the context of pharmacology, ISIP is formally affiliated with the Irrterllntiorlnl Urlion of P1znrmncolog?/ (IUPHAR) and efforts are being made to increase
the profile of immunopharmacologv in the mainstream of internat&al pharmacology. In the case of immunology, ISIP is affiliated to the International Uniotz of Immrlnological Societies (IUIS) and work is in progress to highlight immunopharmacology within the discipline, particularly in the field of clinical immunology where the main advances are taking place. Against this background it is with great pleasure that we have had the opportunity to participate in this joint publication between Trends in PItarmacological Sciences and imtnrwtology Today. We hope this forum will define the current advances in the science and provide some insight as to what the future will hold for this exciting branch of medicine. JOHN
W. HADDEN
TADAMITSU
KISHIMOTO
Puesidenf ISIP, Dcpf of Mcdicim If, Osaka Uniuersit!y, Medical School. l-7-50 Flrkrrshim, Osaka, 5.53 /npm.
ecent articles in Immunology Today The coming of age of cuncer radioimmunoconjugates, D. M. Goldenberg and J. Schlom Molecular mechanisms and other autoimmune and K. Haskins
underlying diabetes diseases, R. G. Gill
The mechanism of action of cyclosporin A in the treatment of psoriasis, R. G. Wong, C. M. Winslow and K. D. Cooper Human ZgG Fc receptor heterogeneity: molecular aspects and clinical implications, J. G. J. van de Winkel and P. J. A. Cape1 Can AZDS be prevented by T-cell vaccination?, H. Atlan, M. J. Gersten, P. L. Salk and J. Salk