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Pharmacology Lab
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A pharmacology lab that explores the pathology of heart failure, lung injury, and cancer through RNA regulation and signal transduction.
AboutAbout the lab
Uncovering disease mechanisms to find targets for drug discovery.
The Kuba Lab in the Pharmacology Division studies the molecular mechanisms of disease and previously unknown operating principles of life, using model animals and cells.
The lab focuses on the interaction between two distinct mechanisms: RNA regulation and signal transduction.
The diseases it targets are mainly heart failure, acute lung injury, and malignant tumors, and the lab plans to also tackle problems in other areas such as rare diseases.
Its achievements so far include elucidating how the RNA regulator CCR4-NOT controls cardiac function, and developing an ACE2 convergent evolution enzyme to prevent severe COVID-19.
Key terms
- CCR4-NOT complex
- A protein complex that degrades the poly(A) tail of RNA. It was identified as a factor essential for maintaining cardiac function
- ACE2
- An enzyme known as the receptor for SARS-CoV-2. It degrades angiotensin II
- Galectin-7
- A factor found in mouse squamous cell carcinoma that specifically promotes metastasis. It does not affect the size of the primary tumor
NewsLab news
A paper was published clarifying the roles of CNOT6L and Tenascin-C in fibroblasts in heart failure
Assistant Professor Yamaguchi received the Young Investigator Award (YIA) at the Japanese Society for Cardiovascular Vasoactive Substances
A doctoral student received the Young Investigator Excellent Presentation Award for a poster presentation at the NIPS Cardiovascular Research Meeting
A paper on the role of Cnot3 in acute lung injury was published in the Journal of Inflammation Research
ResearchResearch themes
The lab studies diseases such as heart failure, acute lung injury, and malignant tumors using model animals and cells. It aims to clarify the interaction between two distinct mechanisms, RNA regulation and signal transduction, and to find new drug discovery targets.
*Illustrative imageRNA degradation that supports the heart
The lab is working to clarify how RNA degradation and transcription/translation influence each other and contribute to regulating gene expression and function in the heart. It does so by analyzing genetically modified mice for each subunit of the CCR4-NOT complex.
*Illustrative imageUnderstanding severe COVID-19 pneumonia and its aftereffects
Through detailed molecular-level analysis of a severe SARS-CoV-2 infection model, the lab aims to elucidate the mechanisms behind severe disease caused by neurovascular invasion, sudden death, and aftereffects, laying the foundation for rapid development of therapeutics.
*Illustrative imageIdentifying factors that promote cancer metastasis
In a mouse metastasis model of squamous cell carcinoma, the lab found Galectin-7, a factor that specifically promotes metastasis. It is now investigating how Galectin-7 regulates tumor immunity, and considering applications to new ways of predicting and treating metastasis.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Kuba Lab consist of faculty, doctoral students, and undergraduate students.As of 2025
- ProfessorKeiji Kuba
- Assistant ProfessorTomokazu Yamaguchi
- Assistant ProfessorAyaha Yamamoto
- Assistant ProfessorYota Hagihara
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Фармацевтско-лабараториски техничар” Blagojcedisoski / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- RNA degradation that supports the heart: “Cardiovascular system - Diastolic heart failure -- Smart-Servier” Laboratoires Servier / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Understanding severe COVID-19 pneumonia and its aftereffects: “HRCT Chest Scan Showing COVID-19 Lung Infection (Ground-Glass Opacities)” Goleisureintl / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Identifying factors that promote cancer metastasis: “Clear cell renal cell carcinoma metastasis to bladder -- high mag” Nephron / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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- Related lab (ウイルス学): “Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2” NIAID-RML (https://www.niaid.nih.gov/ & https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/rocky-mountain-laboratories) / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (呼吸器内科学): “X-ray of lobar pneumonia” Mikael Häggström, M.D. Author info - Reusing images- Conflicts of interest: None Mikael Häggström, M.D.Consent note: Written informed consent was obtained from the individual, including online publication. / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (生化学): “A Pathway to Protocells on Titan – Animations (SVS -Cell-Membrane-Thumbnail)” NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio - NASA Goddard / Public domain (cropped)
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