Professor, Division of Microbiology and Immunology Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Education and Career
M.D., Ph.D.: Tohoku University School of Medicine, 1995
Assistant Professor, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 1996
Associate Professor, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 2003
Present, 2009-
Research Project
The immune system has been evolved for protective mechanisms against a variety of infectious pathogens. The dysregulation of immune signals, however, causes immune disorders including allergy, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, and immunodeficiency. Over the past 10 years, we have investigated the roles of OX40/OX40 ligand, a T cell costimulatory system, in T cell memory and T cell-mediated inflammation. We have demonstrated the pathogenic mechanisms mediated by OX40 signals for autoimmunity and inflammatory bowel disease, and proposed a new therapeutic strategy for these diseases by targeting OX40 ligand. In another project, we have established NOD/Shi-scid-IL-2Rgamma(gamma-c)null(NOG) mice, into which almost all of human cells and tissues can be transplanted because of the lack of any rejection responses in NOG mice. By using NOG mice, we are establishing a novel animal model in which the human immune system can be almost reconstituted, and attempting to identify cancer stem cells, including leukemia cells.
