The 2011 Japan Prize

• Field:
  Bioscience and Medical Science
• Achievement:
  Discovery of interleukin-6 and its application in treating diseases

Major Honors

1986	Erwin von Bälz Prize
1990	CIBA-GEIGY Rheumatism Prize
1992	Sandoz Prize for Immunology
1997	Osaka Science Prize
1998	Mochida Memorial Prize
2000	ISI Citation Laureate Award, 1981-1988
2004	The Fujihara Prize
2005	Medical Award of the Japan Medical Association
2006	The Emperor's Purple Ribbon Medal
2009	The Crafoord Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (along with Dr. Tadamitsu Kishimoto)
2009	Suita city award
2010	Osaka City Mayoral Special Award

Membership

	President of Japanese Society for Immunology (2005-2006)
	Board Member of Japanese Society for Immunology
	Board Member of International Society for Zinc Biology
	Member of the American Association of Immunologists
	Member of Japanese Cancer Association
	Member of the Japanese Biochemical Society

Academic Degrees

1972	Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University

Professional Career

1973	Studied abroad at National Institutes of Health, United States
1978	Osaka Prefectural Habikino Hospital
1980	Assistant Professor of School of Medicine, Kumamoto University
1984	Assistant Professor at Osaka University, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology
1989	Professor of Medicine, Osaka University
2001	Group Director of Riken Research Center for Allergy and Immunology
2002	Professor of Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University
2004	Dean of Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University
2007	Professor of WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University
2008	Dean of Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University

Title

• Professor, Osaka University

Major Publications

• Hirano T, Teranishi T, Toba H, Sakaguchi N, Fukukawa T, Tsuyuguchi I. Human helper T cell factor(s) (ThF). I. Partial purification and characterization. J Immunol. 1981; 126: 517-522.
• Teranishi T, Hirano T, Arima, N and Onoue K. Human helper Tcell factor(s) (ThF). II. Induction of IgG production in B lymphoblastoid cell lines and identification of T cell replacing factor-(TRF) like factor(s). J. Immunol. 1982; 128:1903-1908.
• Hirano T, Yasukawa K, Harada T, Taga T, Watanabe Y, Matsuda T, Kashiwamura S, Nakajima K, Koyama K, Iwamatsu A, Tsunasawa S, Sakiyama F, Matsui H, Takahara Y, Taniguchi T, Kishimoto T. Complementary DNA for a novel human interleukin (BSF-2) that induces B lymphocytes to produce immunoglobulin. Nature 1986; 324: 73-76.
• Kawano M, Hirano T, Matsuda T, Taga T, Horii Y, Iwato K, Asaoku H, Tang B, Tanabe O, Tanaka H, Kuramoto A, Kishimoto T. Autocrine generation and requirement of BSF-2/IL-6 for human multiple myelomas. Nature 1988; 332: 83-85.
• Yamasaki K, Taga T, Hirata Y, Yawata H, Kawanishi Y, Seed B, Taniguchi T, Hirano T, Kishimoto T. Cloning and expression of human interleukin 6 (BSF-2/IFNb2) receptor. Science 1988; 241: 825-828.
• Hirano T, Matsuda T, Turner M, Miyasaka N, Buchan G, Tang B, Sato K, Shimizu M, Maini R, Feldmann M, Kishimoto T. Excessive production of interleukin 6/B cell stimulatory factor-2 in rheumatoid arthritis. Eur J Immunol. 1988; 18: 1797-1801.
• Taga T, Hibi M, Hirata Y, Yamasaki K, Yasukawa K, Matsuda T, Hirano T, Kishimoto T. Interleukin-6 triggers the association of its receptor with a possible signal transducer, gp130. Cell 1989; 58: 573-581.
• Hibi M, Murakami M, Saito M, Hirano T, Taga T, Kishimoto T. Molecular cloning and expression of an IL-6 signal transducer, gp130. Cell 1990; 63: 1149-1157.
• Nakajima K, Yamanaka Y, Nakae K, Kojima H, Kiuchi N, Ichiba M, Kitaoka T, Fukada T, Hibi M and Hirano T. A central role for Stat3 in IL-6-induced regulation of growth and differentiation in M1 leukemia cells. EMBO J. 1996; 15:3651-3658.
• Fukada T, Hibi M, Yamanaka Y, Takahashi-Tezuka M, Fujitani Y, Yamaguchi T, Nakajima K, Hirano T. Two signals are necessary for cell proliferation induced by a cytokine receptor gp130: involvement of STAT3 in anti-apoptosis. Immunity. 1996; 5: 449-460.
• Ohtani T, Ishihara K, Atsumi T, Nishida K, Kaneko Y, Miyata T, Itoh S, Narimatsu M, Maeda H, Fukada T, Itoh M, Okano H, Hibi M, Hirano T. Dissection of signaling cascades through gp130 in vivo: reciprocal roles for STAT3- and SHP2-mediated signals in immune responses. Immunity. 2000; 12: 95-105.
• Atsumi T, Ishihara K, Kamimura D, Ikushima H, Ohtani T, Hirota S, Kobayashi H, Park S-J, Saeki Y, Kitamura Y, and Hirano T. A point mutation of Tyr-759 in interleukin 6 family cytokine receptor subunit gp130 causes autoimmune arthritis. 2002; J. Exp. Med. 196:979-990.
• Sawa S, Kamimura D, Jin G-H, Morikawa H, Kamon H, Nishihara M, Ishihara K, Murakami M, and Hirano T. Autoimmune arthritis associated with mutated IL-6 receptor gp130 is driven by STAT3/IL-7-dependent homeostatic proliferation of CD4+ T cells. J. Exp. Med. 2006; 203:1459-1470.
• Ogura H, Murakami M, Okuyama Y, Tsuruoka M, Kitabayashi C, Kanamoto M, Nishihara M, Iwakura Y and Hirano T. Interleukin-17 promotes autoimmunity by triggering a positive feedback loop via interleukin-6 induction. Immunity 2008; 29:628-636.
• Hirano T. Interleukin 6 in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases: a personal memoir. 2010; Proc. Jpn. Acad., Ser. B. 86: 717-730.