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Biodefense Lab (Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer)
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The lab studies cancer and immune diseases through the functions of NK cells and T cells.
AboutAbout the lab
Understanding immune diseases through how NK cells and T cells recognize their targets.
The Biodefense Lab (Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer) studies the immune system in relation to cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases caused by immune abnormalities that accompany aging.
The lab focuses on how NK cells and T cells distinguish their target cells.
Using animal models and genetic engineering techniques, the lab clarifies how diseases develop, with the aim of developing new diagnostics and treatments.
The lab welcomes students from a wide range of backgrounds who are interested in its research.
Key terms
- NK cells
- Immune cells that work on the front line of host defense and are involved in eliminating infections and cancer
- NKG2D ligands
- Molecules that bind NKG2D, an activating receptor of NK cells. They appear in response to oxidative stress, ultraviolet light, and carcinogenesis
- Autoimmune disease
- A disease in which the immune system attacks the body's own cells, such as type 1 diabetes
NewsLab news
A student received an Excellence Award at the institute's Kareiken Shudankai research meeting
A student assigned to the lab received an award at the School of Medicine's Basic Medical Research Training presentation session
Prof. Watanabe received the Research Encouragement Award from the Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine
A student received an Excellence Award at the Gakumon-ron (theory of scholarship) Seminar results presentation
ResearchResearch themes
The lab studies cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases caused by immune abnormalities that accompany aging, focusing on how NK cells and T cells recognize their targets. Using animal models and genetic engineering techniques to clarify disease mechanisms, it aims to develop new diagnostics and treatments.
*Illustrative imageResearch on NK cells and NK receptors
The lab investigates how NK cells recognize target cells through the activating receptor NKG2D. In collaborative research with thoracic surgery, it showed that in mouse tracheal transplantation, NK cells activated via NKG2D damage lung epithelial cells and cause bronchiolitis obliterans.
*Illustrative imageNK cells and cancer immunity
The lab discovered that NK cells die when cultured together with cancer cells, and is investigating the mechanism. It has revealed that NK cells take NKG2D ligands from cancer cells when killing them, and that NK cells carrying these ligands are mistaken for cancer by neighboring NK cells and killed.
*Illustrative imageUnderstanding the pathology of autoimmune diseases
In a mouse model of type 1 diabetes, the lab has found that NKG2D ligands, which are normally not expressed, appear in the pancreas, and that killer T cells carrying NKG2D destroy the pancreas. Administering an anti-NKG2D antibody suppressed the onset of diabetes.
*Illustrative imageTransfer of membrane molecules between cells
The lab found MHC class II on the surface of activated NK cells and determined that they acquire it through interaction with dendritic cells. It has also found that this acquisition can turn cells that promote immunity into cells that suppress it.
MembersFaculty
- ProfessorKoetsu Ogasawara
- Assistant ProfessorKazuki Watanabe
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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: “Flow cytometry scheme” Kwz at Polish Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Research on NK cells and NK receptors: “Human Natural Killer Cell ( )” NIAID / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- NK cells and cancer immunity: “Cancer cells growing in media containing Blebbistatin” Nevena Morel, with my team Lisa Bourne and Nicolas Jacquemin / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Understanding the pathology of autoimmune diseases: “Mouse pancreatic islet” Jakob Suckale / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Transfer of membrane molecules between cells: “Dendritic cell revealed” National Institutes of Health (NIH) / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Immunology Lab): “Cell Culture in a tiny Petri dish (cropped)” kaibara87 / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Mental Health Lab (Institute for Excellence in Higher Education)): “Mental Health Day Rally 2014” Chinchu.c / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Respiratory Medicine Lab): “COR-2-STND-CHEST-LUNGS” Ptrump16 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Biochemistry Lab): “Rotor for microtubes of an Eppendorf Centrifuge 5430” Karbohut / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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