Patent ID: 7378387

Claim:
A method of treating gastrointestinal inflammatory disease, hepatitis, or hepatic cirrhosis, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of (1) a cystine derivative represented by formula (I): wherein R 1 and R 2 , independently from each other, represent an alkyl group or an alkyl group substituted with a nitroxylbutyl group, and R 3 and R 4 , independently from each other, represent an acyl group or a peptidyl group; and (2) at least one of Il-4 or TGF-beta, wherein administration of (1) and (2) (a) reduces the content of reductive glutathione in macrophages in the subject, (b) increases the capability of the macrophages to produce IL-6, and (c) decreases the capability of the macrophages to produce IL-12 and NO.