Professor, Division of Vascular Biology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University
Education and Career
M.D. (Kobe University) 1978
Ph.D. (Kyushu University) 1987
Postdoctoral Fellow, New York University Medical Center, 1987
Research Associate, Oita Medical University, 1989
Professor, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 1994
Research Theme
Aim of our study is to explore the biological characteristics of vascular endothelium on vascular formation and apply our findings to the translational research. We searched functional molecules among VEGF-inducible genes in endothelial cells and isolated vasohibin-1 as a novel angiogenesis inhibitor produced by endothelium. We also found one homologue and named it vasohibin-2. Our analysis revealed that vasohibin-1 is involved not only in the angiogenesis inhibition but also in the maintenance of vascular integrity. Vasohibin-2, on the other hand, mainly expressed by infiltrated mononuclear cells and may compete against the effect of vasohibin-1 on angiogenesis. We are now characterizing such unique functions of vasohibin family members by elucidating their specific receptor and downstream signaling. We will apply our findings to establish the strategy for the treatment of pathological angiogenesis and age-related vascular diseases.
