Immunology Department, Medical Research Institute

Immunology Department, Medical Research Institute

Normal immune system removes pathogens and cancer cells but does not respond to non-microbial foreign substances or normal self-antigens. Immune responses to non-microbial foreign substances and self-antigens cause allergy and autoimmune diseases, respectively. Immune responses to non-protein antigens play crucial roles in host defense against pathogens such as tuberculosis bacilli and meningococci, and autoimmune diseases such as lupus and immuno-neurological disorders. The mechanisms for immune responses to non-protein antigens are distinct from those to protein antigens, but are largely unknown. Thus, immune responses to non-protein antigens constitute a remaining frontier in immunology research. Followings are our research subjects.

1) Elucidation of the mechanisms for humoral immune responses to glycans, glyco-lipids and nucleic acids-related antigens.

2) Elucidation of the mechanisms for the regulation of autoantibody production to glycolipids and nucleic acid-related antigens involved in development of Guillain-Barre syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus, respectively.

3) Elucidation of the role of glycan signals in the regulation of humoral immune responses, and development of modified glycan signals for therapy.

4) Elucidation of the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and membrane trafficking in B lymphocyte activation.

5) Development of therapeutic vaccines that replaces therapeutic antibodies.