Professor Kazuya Yamagata

Sirtuins (SIRT1-SIRT7) are a family of NAD+ dependent protein deacylases that are involved in the process of aging, and the onset of aging-related diseases. We are currently focusing on the functional roles of SIRT7 in aging and aging-related diseases and exploring novel findings that contributes to the extension of healthy life expectancy.

Professor Yuichi Oike

We aim to ① clarify the association between ‘chronic inflammation’, which is caused by alteration of the homeostatic mechanism based on intercellular communications (parenchymal and stromal cells), and ‘age-related diseases’, ② elucidate the molecular basis of ‘attenuation of mitochondrial biogenesis with age’ and ‘individual aging’ and subsequent development and progression of ‘age-related diseases’, and ③ develop novel therapeutic approaches for the diseases.

Our researches focus on the metabolic disorders including diabetes and dyslipidemia. Especially, we investigate the novel therapeutic approaches for diabetes and atherosclerosis applying heat shock response pathway, newly identified miRNA, and suppression of macrophage proliferation.

Professor Kenichi Tsujita

We try to invent an innovative prevention or treatment strategy for cardiovascular diseases, through the combination usage of murine disease models and multicenter randomized clinical trials. we try to proceed the translational researches.

Professor Yoshihiro Komohara

We have been invested the detail macrophage functions in various diseases using human samples and murine disease models. Since 1980s, so many research articles related to “macrophage” have been published from our laboratory. Our main techniques are immunostaining, PCR, Western blot, producing monoclonal antibody, gene construction, cell culture, microarray, and electron-microscopy. We are now focusing on following research.

1: The significance of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) in human malignant tumors. Recently, many studies demonstrated that TAMs are closely involved in the development and progression of human malignant tumors. The in vivo and in vitro studies associated to malignant lymphoma, glioma, sarcoma, ovarian cancer, and kidney cancer are now under investigation.

2: The significant of macrophages in lymph node. Not only dendritic cells but also macrophages are involved in the immune system and lymphocyte activation in lymphoreticular systems. The correlation between anti-cancer immunity in cancer tissues and macrophages in lymph node are now under investigation.

3: Drug discovery and screening regulating macrophage functions. In various disorders such as cancer, metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerosis, macrophage activation is very important step in the pathological progression. Recently we reported the screening system of macrophage-regulating compounds and that corosolic acid significantly suppressed tumor development and lung metastasis. The studies using other novel compounds are now under investigation.

4: The functions of CD163 in macrophages. CD163 is a scavenger receptor specifically expressed on macrophage. CD163 is involved in the clearance of hemoglobin and haptoglobin complex and phagocytosis of bacteria. More detail functions or roles of CD163 are now under investigation using CD163-deficient mice.

Professor Mitsuyoshi Nakao

This research will investigate the molecular regulation of epigenome-energy metabolism crosstalk during senescent changes. We have found that the protein methyltransferases function for senescence-associated metabolic remodeling.

Associate Professor Yuichiro Arima

The perinatal environment affects the development of lifestyle-related diseases after adulthood. We will clarify the effects of changes in the perinatal environment on organs and propose preemptive medical strategies necessary to realize a healthy and long-lived society.

Professor Masashi Mukoyama

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) such as diabetic kidney disease and hypertensive nephrosclerosis is becoming prevalent worldwide and its morbidity increases with age; one-eighth of a general population suffers from CKD in Japan. We aim to clarify the mechanisms and pathophysiology of the disease in order to explore novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to combat CKD.

Professor Hideo Baba

DNA damage repair and immune systems are deeply involved in carcinogenesis associated with age. We conduct a scientific research to elucidate the risk factors of carcinogenesis with age in gastrointestinal cancer.

Professor Toshiro Moroishi

Our long-term research interests involve a physiological mechanism maintaining homeostasis. The three keywords for our research are cancer, immunity, and metabolism. We aim to provide scientific basis for the development of new therapy, improving of health and longevity.

Distinguished Professor Hitoshi Takizawa

■Understanding of ageing-associated changes in HSC behaviour and their microenvironment
Ageing of hemato-lymphoid system is characterized by thymic involution, expansion of memory B and T cell pool, narrowed spectrum of acquired immune receptors, favored myelopoiesis at the expense of lymphopoiesis, clonal hematopoiesis, all of which are involved in increased susceptibility to infection, and increased risk of myeloid blood cancer. Some of these ageing phenotypes are presumably attributed from functional changes of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), including decreased self-renewal, myeloid biased lineage output, and accumulation of genetic ablations. Here we set out to ask the question how relatively intrinsic and extrinsic changes affect HSC functionality during ageing, with main focus on HSC divisional behavior, given that there is a correlation between stem cell division and risk of cancer.

Professor Yasuhito Tanaka

Our aims are to develop original translational researches using clinical specimens and animal models on the themes of early diagnosis of chronic inflammation and liver fibrosis due to viral infection and lifestyle, and inflammatory carcinogenesis. We contribute to the health and longevity of the people.

Professor Mitsuharu Ueda

■Study of amyloidosis and aging
As aging related phenomenon, amyloidosis is one of the most important disease related reaction of human beings. We have been examining the pathogenesis and their therapies of various types of amyloidosis, such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, and other novel types of amyloidosis.

Professor Kazuhito Tomizawa

■Study of the mechanism on aging and age-related diseases by RNA modomics
tRNAs are chemically modified and the modifications are critical for the regulation of quality and quantity of protein translation. We developed the method of high-throughput analysis of tRNA modifications called tRNA modomics. In this center, we aim the elucidation of the mechanism on aging and the development of age-related diseases such as diabetes and glaucoma using tRNA modomics.

Professor Wen-Jie Song

The Sensory and Cognitive Physiology Lab works on auditory neuroscience, the auditory cortex in particular. Hearing related disorders affect a large proportion of the population, especially the elderly. While focusing on basic research, we also explore the etiology and possible treatment of age-dependent hearing loss.

Professor Kazuya Iwamoto

We study the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders such as dementia and mood disorders by examining the pattern and frequency of epigenetic and somatic mutations accumulated during aging.

Professor Toshihiro Inoue

The aim of our study is to overcome the visual loss due to glaucoma, that is developed and progresses along with aging. We try to improve both medical and surgical therapeutics, and to establish novel therapeutics including neuroprotection.

Professor Takeshi Miyamoto

Associate Professor Yusuke Ono

We aim to understand molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying muscle plasticity and regeneration to develop novel therapeutic strategies for muscle diseases such as age-related sarcopenia and muscular dystrophy.

Associate Professor Chitoku Toda

We are studying (1) what molecular mechanisms allow the brain to integrate information from the periphery and maintain whole-body energy homeostasis, (2) why this brain function is impaired in obesity, depression, and aging, and (3) how to improve impaired brain function.

Associate Professor Kyoko Miura

Naked mole-rat (NMR) has two extraordinary characteristics: 1) longevity (around 30 years), although its body mass is similar to that of the house mouse, and 2) cancer resistance. Being the only breeding and research facility of NMR in Japan, we are studying the mechanisms of NMR’s extraordinary resistance to aging and cancer.

Professor Kimi Araki

We are developing efficient genetic manipulation methods in mice incorporating various techniques such as CRISPR-Cas and site-specific recombination, and analyzing gene functions in vivo using knock-out and/or transgenic mice. We also support researchers for production of genetically engineered mice.