Research

The goal of the research in this department is to elucidate the pathogenesis of human autoimmune and degenerative neurological diseases mainly using animal models and to develop effective specific therapy for these diseases.

Outline of Projects

1. Analysis of the pathogenesis of immunological disorders of the central nervous system and muscle mainly focusing on the characterization of disease-inducing T cells and cytokines secreted by these T cells. Based on the findings obtained, immunospecific therapies using viral and non-viral vectors are developed for prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases.
2. Molecular, cellular and neuropathological studies of neurotrophic factors and their therapeutic application to various neurodegenerative disorders.

Fig.1 Lewis rats with severe experimental autoimmune autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Fig.2 Gene gun administration of DNA vaccines for prevention of EAE. Fig.3 Immunocytochemistry (red) for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in immortalized adult mouse Schwann cells IMS32. Fig.4 Immunohistochemistry (brown) for GDNF in injured adult rat facial motoneurons after facial nerve avulsion and local administration of an adenoviral vector encoding GDNF.

Staff