The University of Tokyo · Medicine
Professor Shingo Maeda's research lab focuses on comparative oncology and immunology, leveraging naturally occurring canine diseases as translational models for human cancers and immune-mediated disorders. The lab investigates regulatory T cells (Tregs) in canine cancers—particularly bladder and prostate cancer—exploring their role in tumor immune evasion and the therapeutic potential of anti-Treg strategies such as CCR4 blockade. Additionally, the lab examines the immunogenetics of human and canine inflammatory and fibrotic disorders, including idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), with a focus on immune cell dynamics and genetic susceptibility. The integration of veterinary and human medicine enables the identification of conserved molecular mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Our data confirmed similarities in gene expression patterns between canine and human iUC and identified potential therapeutic targets (PTGER2, ERBB2, CCND1, Vegf, and EGFR), suggesting the value of naturally occurring canine iUC as a relevant animal model for human iUC.
Regulatory T-cell (Treg) infiltration can be targeted as a cancer immunotherapy. Here, we describe therapeutic efficacy of this strategy in a canine model of bladder cancer. We used dogs with naturally occurring bladder cancer to study the molecular mechanism of Treg infiltration into bladder cancer tissues and the effect of anti-Treg treatment. Tumor-infiltrating Tregs were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and their association with prognosis was examined in dogs with bladder cancer. The mole
Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the spine is the leading cause of myelopathy in Japan. In earlier studies, we provided genetic linkage and allelic association evidence of distinct differences in the human collagen alpha2(XI) gene (COL11A2) that might constitute inherited predisposition to OPLL. In the present study, a strong allelic association with non-OPLL (p = 0.0003) was observed with an intron 6 polymorphism [intron 6 (-4A)], in which the intron 6 (-4A) allele
Although regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an integral role in immunologic tolerance and the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis, their involvement in canine gastrointestinal diseases, including idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and intestinal lymphoma, remains unclear. Here we show altered numbers of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)-positive Tregs in the intestine of dogs with IBD and intestinal lymphoma. IBD was diagnosed in 48 dogs; small cell intestinal lymphoma was diagnosed in 46 dogs; la
IBD dogs have decreased IgA concentrations in feces and duodenum and fewer IgA(+) PBMCs, which might contribute to development of chronic enteritis in dogs with IBD.
Anti-Treg treatment, through CCR4 blockade, may be a promising therapeutic approach for advanced prostate cancer in dogs and some population of human patients.
The area of pulsation was found to correspond to the bleeding site in many RCAs. This information would be extremely useful for treatment planning. The detection of pulsation in an URCA is therefore considered to provide useful information for patient management.
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) infiltrate into a variety of tumour tissues and associate with poor prognosis in humans. However, data on association of Treg infiltration with prognosis is limited in canine tumours. The purpose of this study was to examine the number of tumour-infiltrating Tregs and its association with overall survival (OS) in dogs with malignant tumours. The following 168 canine tumours were included: 37 oral malignant melanomas (OMMs); 14 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs); 16
Canine urothelial carcinoma (UC) has a poor prognosis and high metastatic rate. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), a receptor tyrosine kinase involved in cell proliferation and differentiation regulation, has been attracting interest as a therapeutic target molecule for human breast cancer. This study investigated expression of the canine homolog of HER2 (ERBB2) in canine UC, and its association with clinical factors. Since it has been controversial whether commercial anti-human HE
Food allergy is immediate hypersensitive reactions to ingested foods. Since early diagnosis is effective for disease control, development of an objective diagnostic index is required. Using mediator-lipidomics, we found that levels of the urinary prostaglandin D<sub>2</sub> (PGD<sub>2</sub>) metabolite, tetranor-PGDM, reflected the severity of the allergic symptoms and intestinal mast cell hyperplasia in mice. Repeated oral challenges with ovalbumin promoted allergic symptoms in sensitized mice.
Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) accounts for >90% of canine malignant tumours occurring in urinary bladder, and the prognosis is poor. Our previous study, using RNA sequencing, showed that human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) was the most activated upstream regulator related to carcinogenesis in canine TCC. The aim of this study was to examine the anti-tumour effect of lapatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of HER2, on canine TCC cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Five canine TCC cell lines (T
Open papers in the app to read, cite, and organize with AI.
