Exploring Novel Therapeutic Targets for Bronchospasm, Asthma and COPD

Peri-operative bronchospasm remains a clinical problem for the anesthesiologist due in part to inadequate therapies for controlling airway smooth muscle tone. Our main area of research interests is in the identification of novel therapeutic targets (GPCRs) of bronchospasm and asthma, and understanding of their signal transduction pathways. Our department has collaborated with Columbia University Department of Anesthesiology over 15 years.

Relevant publications

• Sasaki H, Zhang Y, Emala CW Sr, Mizuta K.
  Melatonin MT2 receptor is expressed and potentiates contraction in human airway smooth muscle.
  Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 321: L991-L1005, 2021.
  PMID: 34612067
• Mizuta K, Sasaki H, Zhang Y, Matoba A, Emala CW Sr.
  The short-chain free fatty acid receptor FFAR3 is expressed and potentiates contraction in human airway smooth muscle.
  Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 318: L1248-L1260, 2020.
  PMID: 32209026

Exploring Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Orofacial Pain

We investigate the pathogenesis of orofacial pain using in vivo Ca2+ imaging and qAIM-MRI.

Development of Robotic Anesthesia System

We develop AI-assisted closed-loop anesthesia system corroborated with graduate school of Technology.

Development of Novel Therapies for Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases by Enhancing Regulatory T cells

Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a subset of T cells that suppress excessive immune responses. Disruption of the balance between Treg and effector T cells (Teff) is thought to lead to the development of autoimmune and allergic diseases. We are working to develop methods to improve this balance by enhancing Tregs to treat autoimmune and allergic diseases and to elucidate the therapeutic mechanisms.

Relevant publications

• Tanaka Y, Yokoyama Y, Kambayashi T.
  Skin-derived TSLP stimulates skin migratory dendritic cells to promote the expansion of regulatory T cells.
  Eur J Immunol 53: e2350390, 2023.
  PMID: 37525585
• Tanaka Y, Nagashima H, Bando K, Lu L, Ozaki A, Morita Y, Fukumoto S, Ishii N, Sugawara S.
  Oral CD103^-CD11b⁺ classical dendritic cells present sublingual antigen and induce Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells in draining lymph nodes.
  Mucosal Immunol 10: 79-90, 2017.
  PMID: 27166558