About "Novel therapeutic methods for inflammatory diseases"

 

　Profile #18: Dr. MURAKAMI Masaaki, Professor

　Molecular psychoimmunology,

　Institute for Genetic Medicine

 

　【Research Topics】

　・Discovery of new concepts in psychoneuroimmunology

　・Drug discovery via IL-6 amplifier analysis

　・Molecular mechanism of gateway reflexes

 

 

～Novel therapeutic methods for inflammatory diseases via space experiment and Moonshot research and development program～

 

We have been investigating inflammatory diseases by focusing on IL-6 and CD4+ T cells. In 2008, we discovered the IL-6 amplifier, a molecular mechanism that enhances NFkB signaling in nonimmune cells via IL-6-STAT3 and NFkB activation. We recently found that many disease-associated genes related to SNPs contribute to the activation of the IL-6 amplifier and that the activation of specific cell populations in each organ through this mechanism causes tissue-specific inflammatory diseases. In 2012, we found the gateway reflex, which is a molecular mechanism to establish a gateway of autoreactive CD4+ T cells in organs having blood barriers. Indeed, specific neural pathways triggered by environmental stimulations such as gravity, pain, stress, and light develop gateways in specific vessel sites. In addition, we have performed experiments in space on mice transfused with autoreactive T cells that induce tissue-specific inflammatory diseases on earth. In 2021, Dr. Murakami was chosen as the project manager of the Moonshot research and development program by AMED. We are studying new concepts and sort of auto-therapeutics by using small wearable devices based on IL-6 amplifier and gateway reflex concepts for inflammatory diseases.

 

　　　　　　　　　　

IL-6 amplifier activation and inflammation development　　　　IL-6 amplifier is involved in the development of cytokine storm in COVID19 patients

 

Aim of the gravity-gateway reflex experiment in space