Research

Effects of various chemicals on erythropoietin production

Erythropoietin (EPO) is an essential hormone for erythrocyte production. In adults, it is mainly produced in the kidneys and promotes erythrocyte production in the bone marrow. Furthermore, EPO receptors are expressed in various tissues and cells such as nerves and liver, and EPO production has been observed in various cells including the nerves and liver. It is becoming clear that EPO is involved in cell protection in addition to erythrocyte production. When EPO production is suppressed due to various causes, not only erythrocyte production is reduced and anemia is caused, but also the protective effect from cell damage is reduced, which is considered to have an adverse effect on health. It is not well understood how various harmful substances known to cause anemia affect EPO production. In our laboratory, we are studying the effects on EPO production, focusing on metals such as arsenic and chromium.

Other research topics

Analysis of host response in trypanosoma-infected animals
Effects of orallyabsorbed chemicals on bile acid metabolism in the gut bacterium
Development of environmental pollution evaluation method by expression of drug-metabolizing enzyme P450 mRNA

細胞内輸送制御機構の破綻が細胞死に及ぼす影響

細胞内小胞輸送制御の破綻はオートファジー、アポトーシス、ネクローシス等の細胞障害応答を起こす。環境由来の化学物質による細胞内小胞輸送制御機構の変調がどのように細胞死に影響を与えるのか解析することを目的とする。

• 細胞への有害刺激に対する細胞死誘導の調整機構：細胞内輸送阻害や異常構造タンパク蓄積等に由来するER stressで導かれる細胞死の発現調節機構の解明
• 化学物質由来肝毒性発現への細胞内脂質小胞輸送抑制の関与について
• rER-Golgi間の小胞輸送調節機構：細胞内膜系(rER膜、Golgi膜)局在三両体Gタンパクを介した小胞輸送の調節シグナル経路の解明
• マイクロプラスチック（ポリスチレン粒子）の腸管上皮細胞リソソーム腔内への取り込みメカニズムの解明およびその抑制手法の確立