Etiological Basics of and Techniques for Treatment of Allergic and Autoimmune Diseases

Outline

This research area aims to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human immunological diseases, centered on allergic and autoimmune diseases, and includes research for development of basic technologies for improvement of appropriate functioning of the immune system. Diseases centered on allergic responses and autoimmune systems vary from those that may lower the quality of life (QOL) of patients to those leading to death in serious cases. Deepened understanding of the immune mechanism and control of such diseases at levels of molecules, cells, organs, and tissues will be evolved into understanding of a higher-level control immune network system at individual levels, leading to clinical application. Specific examples of research projects include immunoregulatory mechanisms by regulatory cells, construction mechanisms of the mucous membrane immune system, autoimmune system, acquired immune system, and natural immune system and their control, etiological mechanisms of autoimmune and allergic diseases, immune and infection control mechanisms, development of drugs and vaccines against diseases and measurement of their effects, establishment of methods for diagnosis and treatment of diseases, and so forth.

Strategic Sector

Development of Medical Technology using Immunoregulation to Overcome Allergic and Autoimmune Diseases Including Pollinosis

Research Projects

Year Started : 2010
Research Director	Affiliation	Research Project
Akira Shibuya	Professor, University of Tsukuba	Control of allergic diseases by regulation of human mast cell activation
Kiyoshi Takeda	Professor, Osaka University	Development of a new strategy targeting innate immunity for treatment of intestinal immune disorders

Year Started : 2009
Research Director	Affiliation	Research Project
Hisashi Arase	Professor, Osaka University	Regulation of immune response and infection by targeting paired receptors.
Taku Okazaki	Professor, The University of Tokushima	Identification of new therapeutic targets by genetic dissection and reconstitution of autoimmune diseases in mice.
Hajime Karasuyama	Professor, Tokyo Medical and Dental University	Novel mechanisms of allergy and its regulation
Tatsuo Kinashi	Professor, Kansai Medical University	Disregulated of immune-cell trafficking signaling and development of autoimmunity
Tomohiro Kurosaki	Specially Appointed Professor, Osaka University	Development of a novel way to treat autoimmune disease by regulating humoral immune systems
Tadatsugu Taniguchi	Professor, University of Tokyo	Analysis of the regulatory mechanisms that underlie nucleic acid-mediated immune responses and its development into therapeutic strategies against immune disorders

Year Started : 2008
Research Director	Affiliation	Research Project
Yoichiro Iwakura	Director and Professor, University of Tokyo	Elucidation of the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Allergic and Autoimmune Diseases and Development of new Therapeutics Targeted on IL-17 Family Molecules and C-Type Lectin Recepors.
Toshiaki Ohteki	Professor, Medial and Dental University	Conquest of Mucosal Immune Disorders on the Basis of Dendritic Cell Regulation
Toshiyuki Takai	Professor, Tohoku University	Novel Immunotherapies Exploiting Inhibitory Mechanisms of Immunoreceptors
Shigekazu Nagata	Professor, Kyoto University	Engulfment and Degradation of Apoptotic Cells, and Its Failure
Toshio Hirano	Professor, Osaka University	Mechanis of Organ Specifi c Infl ammatory/autoimmune Diseases and the Development of Its Control Approach
Yoshinori Fukui	Professor, Kyushu University	A Novel Strategy for Treatment of Immune-Related Disorders by using Cytoskeleton Regulating Signals as Targets
Akihiko Yoshimura	Professor, Keio University School of Medicine	Reprograming of Immune System by Modulation of Intracellular Signal Transduction

Research Area Website: http://www.immunesystem.jst.go.jp/en/index.html