The University of Osaka · Medicine
Professor Ryuichi Morishita's research lab specializes in vascular biology and gene therapy, focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying vascular diseases such as restenosis and peripheral arterial disease. The lab investigates cell cycle regulation, transcription factors like E2F, and growth factors such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to develop innovative gene and oligonucleotide-based therapies. Key research directions include antisense oligonucleotide delivery, viral vector-free gene transfer, and the modulation of inflammatory pathways in aging and vascular injury. The lab integrates preclinical models with translational clinical studies to advance therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disorders.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
The application of DNA technology to regulate the transcription of disease-related genes in vivo has important therapeutic potentials. The transcription factor E2F plays a pivotal role in the coordinated transactivation of cell cycle-regulatory genes such as c-myc, cdc2, and the gene encoding proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) that are involved in lesion formation after vascular injury. We hypothesized that double-stranded DNA with high affinity for E2F may be introduced in vivo as a deco
To develop an effective strategy to prevent neointima formation after angioplasty injury, we have identified cell-cycle regulatory proteins as targets for inhibition by using antisense oligonucleotides (ODNs). We utilized an intraluminal molecular delivery method that employs the protein coat of a Sendai virus complexed with liposomes that enhances markedly the efficiency of ODNs uptake. First, we examined the effect of antisense cdc2 kinase and proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) ODNs in
Aging is a complex process that results from a combination of environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors. A chronic pro-inflammatory status is a pervasive feature of aging. This chronic low-grade inflammation occurring in the absence of overt infection has been defined as "inflammaging" and represents a significant risk factor for morbidity and mortality in the elderly. The low-grade inflammation persists even after reversing pro-inflammatory stimuli such as LDL cholesterol and the renin-ang
The cell cycle regulatory enzyme, cdk (cyclin-dependent kinase) 2 kinase, is activated in the rat carotid artery after balloon angioplasty injury, and may mediate smooth muscle proliferation. To test the hypothesis that inhibition of the expression of this key enzyme can inhibit intimal hyperplasia, we studied the effect of antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) against cdk 2 kinase administered by intraluminal delivery using hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-liposome-mediate
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) exclusively stimulates the growth of endothelial cells without replication of vascular smooth muscle cells and acts as a survival factor against endothelial cell death. Therefore we hypothesized that a decrease in local vascular HGF might be related to the pathogenesis of peripheral arterial disease. We initially evaluated vascular HGF concentration in the vessels of patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans. Consistent with in vitro findings that hypoxia downregul
Therapeutic angiogenesis using angiogenic growth factors is expected to be a new treatment for patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Because hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has potent angiogenic activity, we investigated the safety and efficiency of HGF plasmid DNA in patients with CLI as a prospective open-labeled clinical trial. Intramuscular injection of naked HGF plasmid DNA was performed in ischemic limbs of 6 CLI patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans (n=3) or Buerger disease (n=3)
In vitro studies have demonstrated that angiotensin (Ang) II directly stimulates vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) growth. However, it is still unclear if Ang II exerts a direct effect on vascular hypertrophy in vivo independent of its effect on blood pressure. In vivo gene transfer provides the opportunity to assess the effects of increased activity of the vascular angiotensin system in the intact animal while avoiding an increase in circulating angiotensin or in blood pressure. Accordingly, w
Recent progress in molecular biology has provided new techniques for inhibiting target gene expression. In particular, the application of DNA technology, such as antisense strategy to regulate the transcription of disease-related genes in vivo, has important therapeutic potential. Recently, transfection of cis-element double-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), referred to as "decoy" ODNs, has been reported to be a powerful tool in a new class of anti-gene strategies for gene therapy and in th
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