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Molecular Neuroimmunology Lab
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The lab explores the mechanisms and treatment of chronic inflammation through the links between the nervous and immune systems.
AboutAbout the lab
Using quantum technology and nerves to find and remove inflammation
The Molecular Neuroimmunology Lab studies how the nervous and immune systems influence each other to cause disease.
It focuses on the "gateway reflex," in which neural activity creates entry points for immune cells, and the "IL-6 amplifier," which prolongs inflammation.
It is also developing technology to detect small inflammation early, before disease develops, and remove it through neural stimulation.
The lab also recruits students for the Faculty of Medicine's researcher training program (MD-PhD Course), and welcomes lab visits and consultations at any time.
Key terms
- Blood–brain barrier
- A gate-like mechanism in the blood vessels of the brain and spinal cord. It does not let immune cells or large proteins pass.
- IL-6 amplifier
- A mechanism by which inflammation is progressively amplified via cytokines such as IL-6. It is a root cause of chronic inflammation.
- Neuromodulation
- A method of regulating the function of nerves by applying stimulation such as electrical stimulation.
NewsLab news
Paper from a collaboration with the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hokkaido University, accepted by Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
Paper from a collaboration with the Department of Hematology, Hokkaido University, accepted by Blood
Paper from a collaboration with Institute of Science Tokyo accepted by Biomaterials Advances
Paper from a collaboration with the Department of Neurosurgery, Hokkaido University, accepted by International Immunology
Paper from a collaboration with UMass Chan Medical School published in Nature Immunology
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to understand how chronic inflammatory diseases develop, based on the interplay between the nervous and immune systems. It works on the gateway reflex, the IL-6 amplifier, and the development of technology to detect and remove minute inflammation early.
*Illustrative imageGateway reflex
The blood vessels of the brain and spinal cord have the blood–brain barrier, which does not let immune cells pass. In an animal model of multiple sclerosis, it is known that everyday stimulation by gravity activates nerves in the lower back, creating an entry point for immune cells in the blood vessels on the dorsal side of the fifth lumbar vertebra. The lab studies the mechanism of this interaction between nerves and immunity.
*Illustrative imageThe IL-6 amplifier that amplifies inflammation
The lab studies how the IL-6 amplifier, which triggers local inflammation, is involved in various human diseases. Blocking the action of epiregulin, a growth factor involved in the IL-6 amplifier, has been shown to improve symptoms in animal models of rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
*Illustrative imageFinding and removing minute inflammation in the presymptomatic stage
As part of a Moonshot R&D Program project, the lab is developing technology that uses quantum measurement and AI to detect, at a very early stage, the minute inflammation that is the starting point of chronic inflammation. It is also developing neuromodulation technology that removes minute inflammation by stimulating neural circuits.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Molecular Neuroimmunology Lab consist of faculty, visiting professors, postdocs, visiting researchers, visiting fellows, visiting students, invited faculty, doctoral students, technical staff, and secretaries.As of 2026
- ProfessorMasaaki Murakami
- Associate ProfessorShintaro Hojyo
- Associate ProfessorShigeru Hashimoto
- Project LecturerYuta Shinohara
- Project LecturerJiang Jingjing
- Project LecturerHiroki Tanaka
- Project LecturerRiko Nishi
- Project LecturerKaoru Murakami
- Project Assistant ProfessorTasuku Inao
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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: “Fluorescently Labeled Microglia in a Coronal Brain Section from a C57 Mouse” Syed07 / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Gateway reflex: “Lumbar vertebra 5 posterior” Anatomography / CC BY-SA 2.1 jp (cropped)
- The IL-6 amplifier that amplifies inflammation: “Rheumatoid arthritis with carpal ankylosis 2017” Mikael Häggström / CC0 (cropped)
- Finding and removing minute inflammation in the presymptomatic stage: “Vagus nerve stimulation” Manu5 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Stem Cell Biology Lab): “"Forest of memory"” RebecaCuesta / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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