The University of Osaka · Medicine
Professor Tatsusada Okuno's research lab focuses on the immunological and neuroinflammatory mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, with a particular emphasis on the roles of signaling molecules such as semaphorins and cytokines in glial cell activation and neuroimmunomodulation. The lab investigates the gut microbiome's contribution to multiple sclerosis using advanced metagenomic and bioinformatic approaches, and explores the pathogenic involvement of immune cells like basophils and mast cells in inflammatory responses. Additionally, the lab examines key inflammatory mediators such as COX-2 and CD40 in neurodegenerative conditions like ALS, aiming to identify novel therapeutic targets.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Although semaphorins were originally identified as axonal guidance molecules during neuronal development, it is emerging that several semaphorins play crucial roles in various phases of immune responses. Sema4D/CD100, a class IV semaphorin, has been shown to be involved in the nervous and immune systems through its receptors plexin-B1 and CD72, respectively. However, the involvement of Sema4D in neuroinflammation still remains unclear. We found that Sema4D promoted inducible NO synthase expressi
A newly introduced sulphydryl compound, dithiothreitol (DTT), is evaluated for its optimal conditions of inactivation of IgM antibodies. The maximal effects of DTT reagent are observed when its final concentrations are between 0.0025 M and 0.005 M, pH between 7.0 and 8.0, and incubation at 37 degrees C. Concentrations over 0.01 M, pH values greater than 8.0, and an incubation temperature over 40 degrees C resulted in a gel formation of the specimen. Examination of both 'cold' and 'warm' type ant
While microbiome plays key roles in the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS), its mechanism remains elusive. Here, we conducted a comprehensive metagenome-wide association study (MWAS) of the relapsing-remitting MS gut microbiome (<i>n</i><sub>case</sub> = 26, <i>n</i><sub>control</sub> = 77) in the Japanese population, by using whole-genome shotgun sequencing. Our MWAS consisted of three major bioinformatic analytic pipelines (phylogenetic analysis, functional gene analysis, and pathway analysis
A murine interleukin 3 (IL 3)-dependent basophilic mast cell line, PT-18 (A17), and a rat basophilic leukemic cell line, RBL-2H3, were shown to be capable of selective natural cytotoxic (NC) but not natural killer (NK) cell activity. The basophilic cell types could also be augmented in their NC activity by bridging of their surface IgE receptors. IgE-mediated triggering of the basophilic cells was accomplished by coating the cells with IgE and exposing the IgE-bound cells to specific antigen or
An inflammatory process in association with reactive gliosis has been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). One of the key findings is a marked increase in the level of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a therapeutic target of ALS. We investigated the expression of CD40 in the spinal cord of a transgenic mouse model of ALS (G93A mice), and its relevance to COX-2 upregulation. CD40 was predominantly expressed in neurons in normal spinal cord and u
Anti-IL-6 treatment may prove effective in stopping status epilepticus in some C-NORSE cases.
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