Heme oxygenase is rapidly taking its place as the centerpiece of multiple inter acting metabolic systems. Only 25 years ago heme oxygenase and its metabolic prod ucts appeared to be merely a simple metabolic system-one substrate, heme; one enzyme, heme oxygenase; and one set of products, iron to be recycled, and bilirubin and carbon monoxide to be disposed. From a group of about 25 people in 1974, as judged by attendance at various Gordon conferences, heme oxygenase has, in the year 2000, attracted working scientists-and clinicians I might add-by the hundreds and has produced referenced publications by the thousands. It is well-deserved attention. Heme oxygenase system is now similar to the metabolic networks surrounding glucose in those complex maps of glycolytic and non-glycolytic metabolic pathways, which we had to memorize as students. The relevance of heme oxygenase to regulatory biology was recognized many years ago, but the work conducted over the past five years has created a new wave of emphasis focusing on genetic manipulation to alter heme oxygenase gene expression, the regulatory actions of heme oxygenase products including carbon monoxide, and the significance of changes in the heme oxygenase system. The physiological and pathological relevance of heme oxygenase in the brain, heart, liver, bone marrow, organ transplant, lung and kidney, opens many areas of investigation in various dis ciplines. Advances in the pharmacology of bilirubin and its ability as an antioxidant have provided a new avenue in clinical research.

This volume of Molecular Biology of Hematopoiesis is dedicated to many inter national scientists and clinicians for their contribution to the field of Hematology/ Oncology presented at the 11th International Symposium on Molecular Biology of Hematopoiesis, which was held in Bormio, Italy, June 25-29, 1998. The continuous support of the Presidents of the meeting, Professor F. Takaku, President of Jichi University, and E. D. Thomas, Nobel Laureate, was greatly acknowledged, especially Professor Takaku, for his vision and support for development of gene therapy in Japan. New information on BMT for autoimmune disease and organ transplantation was presented at the symposium and is published in this volume. Several new findings on gene therapy/transfer into HSC were presented by E. F. Vanin and A. Nienhuis, K. Humphries, 1. A. Nolta, H. E. Heslop, and M. K. Brenner. Professors S. Asano and K. Tani presented new studies on gene transfer into primates. Among the highlights were the new papers on gene transfer presented by G. Wage maker, N. G. Abraham, and M. Onoderea from R. M. BJaese's group. The use of BMT for organ transplant and autoim mune disease was updated and a representative paper is presented in this volume.

Heme oxygenase is rapidly taking its place as the centerpiece of multiple inter acting metabolic systems. Only 25 years ago heme oxygenase and its metabolic prod ucts appeared to be merely a simple metabolic system-one substrate, heme; one enzyme, heme oxygenase; and one set of products, iron to be recycled, and bilirubin and carbon monoxide to be disposed. From a group of about 25 people in 1974, as judged by attendance at various Gordon conferences, heme oxygenase has, in the year 2000, attracted working scientists-and clinicians I might add-by the hundreds and has produced referenced publications by the thousands. It is well-deserved attention. Heme oxygenase system is now similar to the metabolic networks surrounding glucose in those complex maps of glycolytic and non-glycolytic metabolic pathways, which we had to memorize as students. The relevance of heme oxygenase to regulatory biology was recognized many years ago, but the work conducted over the past five years has created a new wave of emphasis focusing on genetic manipulation to alter heme oxygenase gene expression, the regulatory actions of heme oxygenase products including carbon monoxide, and the significance of changes in the heme oxygenase system. The physiological and pathological relevance of heme oxygenase in the brain, heart, liver, bone marrow, organ transplant, lung and kidney, opens many areas of investigation in various dis ciplines. Advances in the pharmacology of bilirubin and its ability as an antioxidant have provided a new avenue in clinical research.

This volume of Molecular Biology of Hematopoiesis is dedicated to many inter national scientists and clinicians for their contribution to the field of Hematology/ Oncology presented at the 11th International Symposium on Molecular Biology of Hematopoiesis, which was held in Bormio, Italy, June 25-29, 1998. The continuous support of the Presidents of the meeting, Professor F. Takaku, President of Jichi University, and E. D. Thomas, Nobel Laureate, was greatly acknowledged, especially Professor Takaku, for his vision and support for development of gene therapy in Japan. New information on BMT for autoimmune disease and organ transplantation was presented at the symposium and is published in this volume. Several new findings on gene therapy/transfer into HSC were presented by E. F. Vanin and A. Nienhuis, K. Humphries, 1. A. Nolta, H. E. Heslop, and M. K. Brenner. Professors S. Asano and K. Tani presented new studies on gene transfer into primates. Among the highlights were the new papers on gene transfer presented by G. Wage maker, N. G. Abraham, and M. Onoderea from R. M. BJaese's group. The use of BMT for organ transplant and autoim mune disease was updated and a representative paper is presented in this volume."

This volume of Molecular Biology of Hematopoiesis is dedicated to John W. Adam son, M. D. , Tadamitsu Kishimoto, M. D. , Robert C. Gallo, M. D. , Arthur W. Nienhuis, M. D. , and Franco Mandelli, M. D. , for their contributions in developing an overall view of the state-of-the-art knowledge in the field of hematopoiesis. Richard Champlin, among other renowned clinicians, presented updated information on stem cells and T-cell depletion for bone marrow transplant. A clinical update on thrombopoietin was presented by Pamela Hunt of Amgen and by Kenneth Kaushansky. Arthur Nienhuis' and Katherine Turner's contribu tions to our current knowledge and advances in the fields of growth factors and gene transfer were also recognized during the 9th Symposium on Molecular Biology of Hematopoiesis in Genoa. The chapters cover such diverse areas as preclinical and clinical updates on growth factors and positive and negative regulatory molecules. "Advances in Leukemia: Mechanism and Treatment by Interferon" was presented by Professor Sante Tura. Readers will find presentation of exciting advances that have occurred in the area of hematopoiesis. The elucidation of gene structures of key growth factor proteins such as IL-12 and IL-II will lead to new insights and new approaches in understanding the regulation of hematopoiesis, as well as application of new growth factors.