Other

092-642-6076

092-642-6079

PhD

No

Pharmacology

02years00months

Research:
(1) Vascular endothelium: My main research interest is endothelial signal transduction. I have clarified mechanosensitive endothelial responses, focusing on ATP release mechanisms. Furthermore, I have examined the effects of various hazardous environments, such as hypoxia, glucose overload and hyperlipidemia, on endothelial functions.
(2) I have developed an in vitro reconstruction system of smooth muscle contraction, using cultured smooth muscle cells, and examined the detailed contractile mechanisms of vascular and airway smooth muscle cells. Especially I have established the in vitro model system of airway hyperresponsiveness and revealed the possible involvement of RhoA and MMP-1 in hyperresponsiveness.
(3) in silico drug discovery: I have been using in sillico screening for discovering anti-metastatic drugs.
(4) I have developed in silico drug repositioning system and have been conducting experiments to prove the usefulness of this system.
(5) I have developed a novel in silico method to design small proteins that can show therapeutic properties.

Education:
I give lectures of introduction to pharmacology, autonomic pharmacology, CNS pharmacology, endocrine pharmacology, pharmacology of blood coagulation, pulmonary pharmacology and gastrointestinal pharmacology to undergraduate medical students (3rd grade), and provide practices in pharmacodynamics using simulation programs, and in pharmacokinetics using model case.

Research Interests

• Designing of small molecule proteins that have therapeutic potentials.
  keyword : small molecule proteins, in silico drug development, therapeutic activities
  2021.03.
• Development of medium molecular weight compounds targeting protein-protein interface.
  keyword : protein-protein interaction, in silico drug development, medium molecular weight compounds
  2018.04～2022.03.
• Drug repositioning using in silico screening.
  keyword : in silico screening, drug repositioning
  2016.04.
• Prediction of drug-target proteins using computational chemistry.
  keyword : computational chemistry, drug target, protein, in silico screening
  2015.10～2018.03.
• Drug discovery using in silico screening.
  keyword : in silico screening, cancer metastasis, TGFβ
  2013.04.
• Interaction between vascular endothelial cells and tumor cells.
  keyword : endothelial cells, tumor cells, protein
  2008.09～2014.12Angiogenesis is the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells, and plays a key role in tumor growth and wound healing. We have found that supernatant of a cirtain cell contains protein(s) that markedly suppress the proliferation of endothelial cells. This study aims to identify this protein..
• Exploration of endogenous anti-angiogenic substance.
  keyword : angiogenesis, endothelial cells, anti-angiogenic factor, protein
  2007.09～2019.03Angiogenesis is the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells, and plays a key role in tumor growth and wound healing. We have found that supernatant of a cirtain cell contains protein(s) that markedly suppress the proliferation of endothelial cells. This study aims to identify this protein..
• Possible role of MMP-1 in the Th2 cytokines-induced development of airway hyperresponsiveness.
  keyword : Th2 cytokines, MMP-1, airway hyperresponsiveness, collagen
  2005.04～2012.12Possible role of MMP-1 in the Th2 cytokines-induced development of airway hyperresponsiveness..
• Identification of endogenous smooth muscle organization factor.
  keyword : vascular smooth muscle cells, intercellular information
  2005.04～2015.03I am clarifying the possible invovelment of endothelium-derived factor(s) in the arrangement of vascular smooth muscle cells into vessel-like structure..
• Molecular mechanisms of endothelial mechanosensitivity.
  keyword : vascular endothelial cells, small G protein, ATP, Dbl protein, integrin
  1998.04～2014.04Molecular mechanisms of endothelial mechanosensitivity. I have examined how vascular endothelium converts physical forces into chemical signals and how these signals ultimately lead to endothelial functions including ATP release..
• Molecular mechanisms of airway hyperresponsiveness and exploration of anti-hyperresponsive drugs.
  keyword : airway smooth muscle cells, airway hyperresponsiveness, theophylline, cAMP, small G protein.
  2000.04～2006.12Cellular mechanisms of airway hyperresponsiveness and search for drugs that ameliorate it. I have developed a novel in vitro method to simulate airway hyperresponsiveness, using cultured airway smooth muscle cells. I have found that theophylline reverses airway hyperresponsiveness by inhibiting small G protein Rho with cAMP. I am now examining other possibilities to efficiently ameliorate hyperresponsiveness..
• ATP release pathway in vascular endothleial cells.
  keyword : vascular endothelial cells, ATP release, chloride channels
  1996.04～2002.12ATP release pathway in vascular endothleial cells. ATP is released from vascular endothelium in response to mechanical stress. I have clarified that mechanosensitive ATP release is obtained through volume-regulated anion channels..

Current and Past Project

• This study aims to develop an efficient method for cell culture in space station.
• The purpose of this poject was to clarify the effects of gravity change on endothelial functions and their molecular emchanisms.

Academic Activities Membership in Academic Society

• The Japanese Pharmacological Society
• The Chem-Bio Informatics Society

Educational Activities Other Educational Activities

• 2020.06, I introduced a use of computer simulation programs as an alternative to animal use in pharmacology education (Folia Pharmacologica Japonica. 144(2), 95-97, 2014)..
• 2004.08.
• 2004.06.

Professional and Outreach Activities