The University of Osaka · Medicine
Professor Ryoichi Imamura's research lab specializes in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury and its implications in kidney transplantation, with a focus on developing novel therapeutic strategies to improve graft and patient outcomes. The lab investigates molecular mechanisms such as p53 activation and oxidative stress, and explores protective agents including modified erythropoietin (CEPO), molecular hydrogen (H₂) generated from nano-silicon, and other cytoprotective molecules. Their work bridges basic science and translational medicine, aiming to enhance renal function and reduce long-term complications such as cancer post-transplantation. The lab also emphasizes innovative delivery methods and biomaterials for sustained therapeutic effects.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, which is unavoidable in renal transplantation, frequently influences both short- and long-term allograft survival. Despite decades of laboratory and clinical investigations, and the advent of renal replacement therapy, the overall mortality rate due to acute tubular injury has changed little. I/R-induced DNA damage results in p53 activation in proximal tubule cells (PTC), leading to their apoptosis. Therefore, we examined the therapeutic effect of tempora
Several studies have shown that erythropoietin (EPO) can protect the kidneys from ischemia-reperfusion injury and can raise the hemoglobin (Hb) concentration. Recently, the EPO molecule modified by carbamylation (CEPO) has been identified and was demonstrated to be able to protect several organs without increasing the Hb concentration. We hypothesized that treatment with CEPO would protect the kidneys, partly due to the increased peritubular capillaries. The therapeutic effect of CEPO was evalua
Organ ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), which is unavoidable in kidney transplantation, induces the formation of reactive oxygen species and causes organ damage. Although the efficacy of molecular hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) in IRI has been reported, oral intake of H<sub>2</sub>-rich water and inhalation of H<sub>2</sub> gas are still not widely used in clinical settings because of the lack of efficiency and difficulty in handling. We successfully generated large quantities of H<sub>2</sub> molecu
Kidney transplantation is the most promising treatment to improve mortality and life quality in end-stage kidney disease; however, cancer remains a leading cause of death. Several factors including immunosuppressants might be associated with a gradual increase in cumulative cancer incidence after kidney transplantation. Risk factors for cancer and overall and cancer-specific survival were analyzed in 1973 kidney transplant recipients from three study institutions in Japan. The 5-, 10-, 20-, and
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS, grant number 17H04188), Japan Agency of Medical Research and Development (AMED, JP20gm5010001), Osaka Kidney Bank (OKF19-0010), Shiseido Co., Ltd and KAGAMI Inc.
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