| 1. |
Ayano M, Kimoto Y, Mitoma H, Akahoshi M, Ono N, Arinobu Y, Akashi K, Horiuchi T, Niiro H., Comparative efficacy and safety of mizoribine and mycophenolate mofetil for treating systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective cohort study, Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis, 10.1177/1759720X221096367, 14, 1759720X221096367, 2022.05. |
| 2. |
Kawano S, Mitoma H, Inokuchi S, Yamauchi Y, Yokoyama K, Nogami J, Semba Y, Ayano M, Kimoto Y, Akahoshi M, Ono N, Arinobu Y, Akashi K, Horiuchi T, Niiro H., TNFR2 Signaling Enhances Suppressive Abilities of Human Circulating T Follicular Regulatory Cells, J Immunol, 10.4049/jimmunol.2100323, 208, 5, 1057-1065, 2022.03. |
| 3. |
Kashiwado Y, Kimoto Y, Sawabe T, Irino K, Nakano S, Hiura J, Wang Q, Kawano S, Ayano M, Mitoma H, Ono N, Arinobu Y, Niiro H, Hotta T, Kang D, Akashi K, Ohshima S, Takeuchi T, Horiuchi T., Antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in patients with rheumatic diseases in Japan: Interim analysis of a multicentre cohort study, Mod Rheumatol, 10.1093/mr/roac030, 2022.03. |
| 4. |
Fujiwara T, Kondo M, Yamada H, Haraguchi A, Fujimura K, Sakuraba K, Kamura S, Fukushi JI, Miyahara H, Inoue Y, Tsuru T, Shuto T, Yoshizawa S, Suematsu E, Miyamura T, Ayano M, Mitoma H, Arinobu Y, Niiro H, Ohishi M, Hirata A, Tokunaga S, Takada A, Hara D, Tsushima H, Akasaki Y, Ikemura S, Sueishi T, Toya M, Sakuragi T, Tsutsui T, Kai K, Arisumi S, Nakashima Y., Factors affecting patient satisfaction related to cost and treatment effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis: results from the multicenter observational cohort study, FRANK Registry, Arthritis Res Ther, 10.1186/s13075-022-02746-5, 24, 1, 53, 2022.02. |
| 5. |
Ayano M, Kimoto Y, Mitoma H, Akahoshi M, Ono N, Arinobu Y, Akashi K, Horiuchi T, Niiro H., Hydroxychloroquine versus tacrolimus for the treatment of persistently active systemic lupus erythematosus, Mod Rheumatol, 10.1093/mr/roab010, 32, 2, 345-350, 2022.02. |
| 6. |
Irino K, Arinobu Y, Ayano M, Kawano S, Kimoto Y, Mitoma H, Akahoshi M, Akashi K, Horiuchi T, Niiro H., Predictive factors of fetal and maternal pregnancy outcomes in Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, Lupus, doi: 10.1177/09612033211031989. , 30, 10, 1637-1643, 2021.09. |
| 7. |
Kushimoto K, Ayano M, Nishimura K, Nakano M, Kimoto Y, Mitoma H, Ono N, Arinobu Y, Akashi K, Horiuchi T, Niiro H., HLA-B52 allele in giant cell arteritis may indicate diffuse large-vessel vasculitis formation: a retrospective study., Arthritis Res Ther., doi: 10.1186/s13075-021-02618-4., 23, 1, 238, 2021.09. |
| 8. |
Nakano M, Ayano M, Kushimoto K, Kawano S, Higashioka K, Inokuchi S, Mitoma H, Kimoto Y, Akahoshi M, Ono N, Arinobu Y, Akashi K, Horiuchi T, Niiro H., Association of elevated serum soluble CD226 levels with the disease activity and flares of systemic lupus erythematosus, Sci Rep., doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-95711-2., 11, 1, 16162, 2021.08. |
| 9. |
Nakano M, Ayano M, Kushimoto K, Kawano S, Higashioka K, Inokuchi S, Mitoma H, Kimoto Y, Akahoshi M, Ono N, Arinobu Y, Akashi K, Horiuchi T, Niiro H., Increased Proportion of CD226+ B Cells Is Associated With the Disease Activity and Prognosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Front Immunol., doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.713225. eCollection 2021., 12, 713225, 2021.07. |
| 10. |
Arinobu Y, Kashiwado Y, Miyawaki K, Ayano M, Kimoto Y, Mitoma H, Akahoshi M, Miyamoto T, Horiuchi T, Akashi K, Niiro H., Autoimmune manifestations associated with myelodysplastic syndrome predict a poor prognosis, Medicine (Baltimore)., doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025406., 100, 13, e25406, 2021.04. |
| 11. |
Inokuchi S, Mitoma H, Kawano S, Ayano M, Kimoto Y, Akahoshi M, Arinobu Y, Akashi K, Horiuchi T, Niiro H., Activation of caspase-1 is mediated by stimulation of interferon genes and NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 in monocytes of active systemic lupus erythematosus, Clin Exp Rheumatol. , 2021.03. |
| 12. |
Nakayama T, Yoshimura M, Higashioka K, Miyawaki K, Ota Y, Ayano M, Kimoto Y, Mitoma H, Ono N, Arinobu Y, Kikukawa M, Yamada H, Akashi K, Horiuchi T, Niiro H., Type 1 helper T cells generate CXCL9/10-producing T-bet(+) effector B cells potentially involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, CELLULAR IMMUNOLOGY, 10.1016/j.cellimm.2020.104263, 360, 2021.02. |
| 13. |
Takuya Harada, Hiromi Iwasaki, Tsuyoshi Muta, Shingo Urata, Aiko Sakamoto, Kentaro Kohno, Ken Takase, Tomoya Miyamura, Takuya Sawabe, Hideki Asaoku, Kensuke Oryoji, Tomoaki Fujisaki, Yasuo Mori, Goichi Yoshimoto, Masahiro Ayano, Hiroki Mitoma, Toshihiro Miyamoto, Hiroaki Niiro, Hidetaka Yamamoto, Yumi Oshiro, Hiroaki Miyoshi, Koichi Ohshima, Morishige Takeshita, Koichi Akashi, Koji Kato, Outcomes of methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorders in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, Br J Haematol., doi: 10.1111/bjh.17456. Online ahead of print., 2021.04. |
| 14. |
Higashioka K, Yoshimura M, Sakuragi T, Ayano M, Kimoto Y, Mitoma H, Ono N, Arinobu Y, Kikukawa M, Yamada H, Horiuchi T, Akashi K, Niiro H., Human PD-1(hi)CD8(+) T Cells Are a Cellular Source of IL-21 in Rheumatoid Arthritis, FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, 10.3389/fimmu.2021.654623, 12, 2021.03. |
| 15. |
K. Higashioka, Y. Kikushige, M. Ayano, Y. Kimoto, H. Mitoma, M. Kikukawa, M. Akahoshi, Y. Arinobu, T. Horiuchi, K. Akashi, H. Niiro, Generation of a novel CD30+ B cell subset producing GM-CSF and its possible link to the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis, Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 10.1111/cei.13477, 201, 3, 233-243, 2020.09, Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a T helper type 2 (Th2)-associated autoimmune disease characterized by vasculopathy and fibrosis. Efficacy of B cell depletion therapy underscores antibody-independent functions of B cells in SSc. A recent study showed that the Th2 cytokine interleukin (IL)-4 induces granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-producing effector B cells (GM-Beffs) in humans. In this study, we sought to elucidate the generation mechanism of GM-Beffs and also determine a role of this subset in SSc. Among Th-associated cytokines, IL-4 most significantly facilitated the generation of GM-Beffs within memory B cells in healthy controls (HCs). In addition, the profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF)-β further potentiated IL-4- and IL-13-induced GM-Beffs. Of note, tofacitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, inhibited the expression of GM-CSF mRNA and protein in memory B cells induced by IL-4, but not by TGF-β. GM-Beffs were enriched within CD20+CD30+CD38−/low cells, a distinct population from plasmablasts, suggesting that GM-Beffs exert antibody-independent functions. GM-Beffs were also enriched in a CD30+ fraction of freshly isolated B cells. GM-Beffs generated under Th2 conditions facilitated the differentiation from CD14+ monocytes to DC-SIGN+CD1a+CD14−CD86+ cells, which significantly promoted the proliferation of naive T cells. CD30+ GM-Beffs were more pronounced in patients with SSc than in HCs. A subpopulation of SSc patients with the diffuse type and concomitant interstitial lung disease exhibited high numbers of GM-Beffs. Together, these findings suggest that human GM-Beffs are enriched in a CD30+ B cell subset and play a role in the pathogenesis of SSc.. |
| 16. |
Qiaolei Wang, Daisuke Oryoji, Hiroki Mitoma, Yasutaka Kimoto, Masamichi Koyanagi, Kana Yokoyama, Masahiro Ayano, Mitsuteru Akahoshi, Yojiro Arinobu, Hiroaki Niiro, Koichi Akashi, Takahiko Horiuchi, Methotrexate Enhances Apoptosis of Transmembrane TNF-Expressing Cells Treated With Anti-TNF Agents, Frontiers in Immunology, 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02042, 11, 2020.08, Background: Concomitant use of methotrexate (MTX) improves the clinical efficacy of anti-TNF agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to clarify the cytotoxic effect of MTX on transmembrane TNF (tmTNF)-expressing cells treated with anti-TNF agents. Methods: Jurkat T cells stably expressing tmTNF were used for the following experiments. Cytotoxicity induced by an anti-TNF agent (infliximab, adalimumab, or certolizumab pegol) with concomitant MTX were compared with that by MTX alone or by an anti-TNF agent alone using flow cytometry. Apoptosis-induction mediated by reverse signal through tmTNF, complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) were evaluated. Folic acid and Y-27632, a Rho kinase inhibitor, were used as inhibitors to study intracellular signaling pathway in apoptosis induced by MTX and anti-TNF agents. Results: Apoptosis of tmTNF-expressing cells was significantly increased by the concomitant administration of MTX and an anti-TNF agent, compared with MTX alone or an anti-TNF agent alone. The apoptosis induction by concomitant MTX was most pronounced in infliximab-treatment. Reverse signal transduction, but not CDC or ADCC/ADCP, was responsible for the coordinate effect of MTX and an anti-TNF agent on tmTNF-expressing cells. Folic acid inhibited MTX-mediated apoptosis, while Y-27632 suppressed JNK activation and infliximab-induced apoptosis via revere signal through tmTNF. Conclusion: The apoptotic effect was enhanced by combination of MTX and an anti-TNF agent in tmTNF-expressing cells. The intracellular pathways induced by MTX and anti-TNF agents seem to be independent. These findings might explain at least in part improved the clinical response upon co-therapy of MTX and an anti-TNF agent in RA.. |
| 17. |
Kazuhiko Higashioka, Yuri Ota, Takashi Maehara, Masafumi Moriyama, Masahiro Ayano, Hiroki Mitoma, Mitsuteru Akahoshi, Yojiro Arinobu, Takahiko Horiuchi, Seiji Nakamura, Koichi Akashi, Hiroaki Niiro, Association of circulating SLAMF7+Tfh1 cells with IgG4 levels in patients with IgG4-related disease, BMC Immunology, 10.1186/s12865-020-00361-0, 21, 1, 2020.06, Background: Follicular helper CD4+ T (Tfh) cells have a critical role in IgG4 production by B cells in IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Recent studies including ours showed that SLAMF7+CD4+ T cells are an important pathological driver of IgG4-RD. In this study, we have sought to elucidate a relationship between helper CD4+ T (Th), particularly Tfh, cells and SLAMF7+ CD4+ T cells in IgG4-RD. Results: The patients with IgG4-RD enrolled in this study were aged 66 ± 12 years and their titers of serum IgG4 were 372 ± 336 mg/dl. Th1 cells, activated circulating Tfh1 (cTfh1), and activated cTfh2 cells increased in IgG4-RD. SLAMF7 was mainly expressed on Th1 and cTfh1, but not cTfh2, cells in the patients. SLAMF7+ cTfh1 cells were PD-1/CD28 double-positive, whereas SLAMF7+ Th1 cells were CD28 negative. Positive correlations were noted between serum IgG4 levels and the number of activated cTfh2 cells and SLAMF7+ cTfh1 cells, but not SLAMF7+ Th1 cells. Intriguingly, among cTfh1 cells, activated SLAMF7+ cTfh1 cells were high producers of IL-10 along with IL-21. Blimp-1, but not Bcl-6, mRNA was expressed at high levels in activated SLAMF7+ cTfh1 cells. In addition to CD4+ T cells, the frequency of SLAMF7+ fraction was higher in memory B cells than naïve B cells in patients with IgG4RD. Finally, upon stimulation via B-cell receptor and CD40, Tfh1-associated cytokines, IL-21 and IFN-γ, most significantly induced SLAMF7 expression in memory B cells. Conclusions: Together, these results suggest that circulating SLAMF7+ Tfh1 cells, along with Tfh2 cells, play a pathologic role in IgG4 production in IgG4-RD.. |
| 18. |
Shoichiro Inokuchi, Hiroki Mitoma, Shotaro Kawano, Shota Nakano, Masahiro Ayano, Yasutaka Kimoto, Mitsuteru Akahoshi, Yojiro Arinobu, Hiroshi Tsukamoto, Koichi Akashi, Takahiko Horiuchi, Hiroaki Niiro, Homeostatic milieu induces production of deoxyribonuclease 1-like 3 from myeloid cells, Journal of Immunology, 10.4049/jimmunol.1901304, 204, 8, 2088-2097, 2020.04, DNase 1-like 3 (DNase1L3), which belongs to DNase1 family, was originally identified as one of apoptosis- and necrosis-related endonucleases that fragmentate intranucleosomal DNA. A loss-of-function mutation has been reported in murine models of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in familial SLE patients. These reports suggest DNase1L3 plays an important role in the prevention of developing SLE; however, expression and function of DNase1L3 in human immune systems have been largely unclarified. As previous reports showed DNase1L3 is expressed in hematopoietic organs, we first analyzed expression levels of DNase1L3 in each subset of human peripheral blood cells by quantitative real-time PCR. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells showed the highest expression levels of DNase1L3 mRNA among peripheral blood cells. IL-4 enhanced DNase1L3 expression in monocytes, monocyte-derived dendritic cells, and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs), but not in T cells, B cells, or plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Together with IL-4, all-trans retinoic acid and apoptotic cells efficiently upregulated expression of DNalse1L3 in MDMs. As a result of intracellular signaling analysis, Jak1-IRS2-ERK/PI3K pathway was essential for IL-4-induced DNase1L3 expression. IL-4-treated monocyte-derived dendritic cells and MDMs secreted active DNase1L3 protein that could degrade liposome-DNA complexes, which were resistant to DNase1. Our results indicate DNase1L3 is secreted by innate immune cells and may play a critical role in the tissue homeostasis and on prevention of developing autoimmunity by degrading self-DNA.. |
| 19. |
Masahiro Ayano, Yojiro Arinobu, Hiroshi Tsukamoto, Shun ichiro Ota, Kenta Misaki, Keisuke Nishimura, Yasutaka Kimoto, Hiroki Mitoma, Mitsuteru Akahoshi, Koichi Akashi, Takahiko Horiuchi, Hiroaki Niiro, Shoulder ultrasound and serum lactate dehydrogenase predict inadequate response to glucocorticoid treatment in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica, Rheumatology International, 10.1007/s00296-020-04512-9, 40, 7, 1101-1109, 2020.01. |
| 20. |
Ayako Takaki-Kuwahara, Yojiro Arinobu, Kohta Miyawaki, Hisakata Yamada, Hirofumi Tsuzuki, Kensuke Irino, Masahiro Ayano, Yasutaka Kimoto, Hiroki Mitoma, Mitsuteru Akahoshi, Hiroshi Tsukamoto, Takahiko Horiuchi, Hiroaki Niiro, Koichi Akashi, CCR6+ group 3 innate lymphoid cells accumulate in inflamed joints in rheumatoid arthritis and produce Th17 cytokines, Arthritis Research and Therapy, 10.1186/s13075-019-1984-x, 21, 1, 2019.08. |
| 21. |
Masahiro Ayano, Hiroshi Tsukamoto, Hiroki Mitoma, yasutaka kimoto, Mitsuteru Akahoshi, Yojiro Arinobu, Toshihiro Miyamoto, Takahiko Horiuchi, Hiroaki Niiro, Koji Nagafuji, Mine Harada, Koichi Akashi, CD34-selected versus unmanipulated autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of severe systemic sclerosis: A post hoc analysis of a phase I/II clinical trial conducted in Japan, Arthritis Research and Therapy, 10.1186/s13075-019-1823-0, 21, 1, 2019.01. |
| 22. |
Motoki Yoshimura, Hiroki Mitoma, Yasutaka Kimoto, Daisuke Oryoji, Yukimi Otsuka, Qiaolei Wang, Shoichiro Inokuchi, Masahiro Ayano, Mitsuteru Akahoshi, Yojiro Arinobu, Hiroaki Niiro, Koichi Kusuhara, Takahiko Horiuchi, A Japanese case of TNF receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) successfully treated by canakinumab, Modern Rheumatology Case Reports, https://doi.org/10.1080/24725625.2018.1523830 , 2018.10. |
| 23. |
Yukimi Otsuka, Chikako Kiyohara, Yusuke Kashiwado, Takuya Sawabe, Shuji Nagano, Yasutaka Kimoto, Masahiro Ayano, Hiroki Mitoma, Mitsuteru Akahoshi, Yojiro Arinobu, Hiroaki Niiro, Koichi Akashi, Takahiko Horiuchi, Effects of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and tocilizumab on the glycosylated hemoglobin levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis; an observational study, PloS one, 10.1371/journal.pone.0196368, 13, 4, 2018.04. |
| 24. |
Sho Ueda, Mitsuteru Akahoshi, Atsunobu Takeda, Yasushi Inoue, Aya Omoto, Masahiro Ayano, Yasutaka Kimoto, Hiroki Mitoma, Yojiro Arinobu, Hiroaki Niiro, Hiroshi Tsukamoto, Takahiko Horiuchi, Shin-Ichi Hikita, Takako Fukuhara, Tatsuro Ishibashi, Koh-Hei Sonoda, Koichi Akashi , Long-term efficacy of infliximab treatment and the predictors of treatment outcomes in patients with refractory uveitis associated with Behçet's disease, Eur J Rheumatol., doi: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2017.17068., 5, 1, 9-15, 2018.03. |
| 25. |
Atsushi Tanaka, Hiroshi Tsukamoto, Hiroki Mitoma, Chikako Kiyohara, Naoyasu Ueda, Masahiro Ayano, Shun ichiro Ohta, Yasutaka Kimoto, Mitsuteru Akahoshi, Yojiro Arinobu, Hiroaki Niiro, Yoshifumi Tada, Takahiko Horiuchi, Koichi Akashi, Serum progranulin levels are elevated in dermatomyositis patients with acute interstitial lung disease, predicting prognosis, Arthritis Research and Therapy, 10.1186/s13075-015-0547-z, 17, 1, 2015.12. |
| 26. |
Masahiro Ayano, Hiroshi Tsukamoto, Kentaro Kohno, Naoyasu Ueda, Atsushi Tanaka, Hiroki Mitoma, Mitsuteru Akahoshi, Yojiro Arinobu, Hiroaki Niiro, Takahiko Horiuchi, koichi akashi, Increased CD226 Expression on CD8+ T Cells Is Associated with Upregulated Cytokine Production and Endothelial Cell Injury in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis, JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, 10.4049/jimmunol.1403046, 195, 3, 892-900, 2015.08. |
| 27. |
Naoyasu Ueda, Hiroshi Tsukamoto, Hiroki Mitoma, Masahiro Ayano, Atsushi Tanaka, Shun Ichiro Ohta, Yasushi Inoue, Yojiro Arinobu, Hiroaki Niiro, Koichi Akashi, Takahiko Horiuchi, The cytotoxic effects of certolizumab pegol and golimumab mediated by transmembrane tumor necrosis factorα, Inflammatory bowel diseases, 10.1097/MIB.0b013e318280b169, 19, 6, 1224-1231, 2013.05. |
| 28. |
Atsushi Tanaka, Hiroshi Tsukamoto, Hiroki Mitoma, Chikako Kiyohara, Naoyasu Ueda, Masahiro Ayano, Shun ichiro Ohta, Yasushi Inoue, Yojirou Arinobu, Hiroaki Niiro, Takahiko Horiuchi, Koichi Akashi, Serum progranulin levels are elevated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, reflecting disease activity, Arthritis Research and Therapy, 10.1186/ar4087, 14, 6, 2012.11. |
| 29. |
Hamaguchi Y, Kuwana M, Hoshino K, Hasegawa M, Kaji K, Matsushita T, Komura K, Nakamura M, Kodera M, Suga N, Higashi A, Ogusu K, Tsutsui K, Furusaki A, Tanabe H, Sasaoka S, Muro Y, Yoshikawa M, Ishiguro N, Ayano M, Muroi E, Fujikawa K, Umeda Y, Kawase M, Mabuchi E, Asano Y, Sodemoto K, Seishima M, Yamada H, Sato S, Takehara K, Fujimoto M., Clinical correlations with dermatomyositis-specific autoantibodies in adult Japanese patients with dermatomyositis: a multicenter cross-sectional study., Arch Dermatol., doi: 10.1001/archdermatol.2011.52., 147, 4, 391-398, 2011.04. |
