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| Career Summary |
1996: B.Sc. (Osaka University)
2001: Ph.D. (Osaka University)
2000-2004: JSPS fellow (DC and PD) (Osaka University and University of California, Berkeley)
2004-2007: Assistant Professor (University of Tokyo)
2007-present: Lecturer (University of Tokyo)
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| Educational Activities |
Graduate school: Immunosurveillance system
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| Research Activities |
The mucosal immune system in the intestinal tissues tightly regulates opposing but harmonized immune activation and quiescence to achieve immunosurveillance and immunological homeostasis in the harsh environment of the intestines being continuously exposed to large numbers of antigens and microorganisms. Conversely, immunological stimulation from these exogenous antigens is required for the full maturation of the gut immune system. Accumulating evidence has revealed that disordered interaction in reciprocal crosstalk leads to the development of mucosal allergic and inflammatory diseases. In this project, we have investigated the immunological crosstalk between the immune system and environmental factors in the homeostatic and pathogenic conditions by using microbial genomic analyses, food sciences, and imaging technologies in addition to immunological analyses. We showed to show that sphingosine 1-phosphate, a lipid mediator, is a key molecule in the regulation of the gut immune system and the development of food allergies (Blood 2008, J Immunol 2008, J Exp Med 2007, Blood 2007, J Immunol 2007).
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Literature
1) Kunisawa J, et al, Blood (2008)
2) Gohda M, et al, J Immunol (2008)
3) Kunisawa J. et al, Trends Immunol (2008)
4) Kunisawa J, et al, J Exp Med (2007)
5) Kurashima Y, et al, J Immunol (2007)
6) Kunisawa J, et al, Blood (2007)
7) McGhee J, et al, Trends Immunol (2007)
8) Kunisawa J, et al, Immunol Rev (2007)
9) Kunisawa J, et al, Immunity (2006)
10) Shastri N, et al, Immunol Rev (2005)
11) Kunisawa J, et al, Mol Cell (2003)
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| Other Activities |
Member
Japan Society of Immunology
Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
Honors
1) The Biken Prize, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University (2001)
2) The Research Encouragement Award, The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases (2001)
3) The Best Research Presentation Award, The Academy of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan (2001)
4) Young Investigator Award, Society of Mucosal Immunology (2005)
5) Junior Faculty Award, American Association of Immunologist (2006)
6) Kao Research Initiative Award, The Kao Foundation for Arts and Science (2008)
7) JBF Research Award, Japan Bifidus Foundation (2008)
8) Young Investigator Award, Japan Society of Immunology (2008)
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| Future Plan |
We will extend our current studies to investigate how the mucosal immune system is cooperatively regulated by environmental factors (e.g., food materials and bacterial products from commensal microbiota). These studies will lead to prospective strategies to develop mucosal immune therapy against allergies, inflammation, and infectious diseases.
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| Messages to Students |
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If you are a curious student, you have a chance to be a great scientist. Mucosal immunology is a novel and fascinating area in immunology. We welcome all of you!
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