Dysregulation of cell identity leads to disruption of homeostasis, becoming an underlying cause of disease development. We focus on epigenetics and immune cell signaling, which play crucial roles in cell fate determination, and aim to unravel the pathological mechanisms underlying various diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and allergies. Through an integrative analysis of molecules, cultured cells, and mouse models, we are investigating the molecular basis of disease onset and developing novel therapeutic strategies.

On-going projects

■ Identification of epigenome alterations involved in disease onset and development of epigenetic therapy
■ Regulation of drug sensitivity by fatty acid metabolism through alterations in cellular membrane composition
■ Clarification of novel mechanisms of allergic immune responses
■ Regulation of GDF3-ALK7 axis and fat accumulation by the immune system

Staff

• ProfessorHATTORI Naoko
• Associate ProfessorOKUNISHI Katsuhide
• Technical AssistantIZAWA Yumi
• Technical AssistantSUTO Makoto
• Undergraduate studentCHINO Fumika
• Undergraduate studentOTANI Kurumi
• Undergraduate studentKIMURA Kozue

Selected References

1. Okunishi K, et al. (2024) Allergy Online ahead of print. doi: 10.1111/all.16087.
2. Zhao M*, Okunishi K*, et al. (2023) JCI insight 8(4):e161229. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.161229.
3. Hattori N, et al. (2021) Br J Cancer 125(12):1647-1656. doi: 10.1038/s41416-021-01571-y.
4. Okunishi K, et al. (2020) J Clin Invest 130(7):3919-3935. doi: 10.1172/JCI127839.
5. Zong L*, Hattori N*, et al. (2019) Oncogene 38(26):5281-5293. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-0792-8.
6. Bu Y, Okunishi K, et al. (2018) Diabetes 67:1761-1772. doi: 10.2337/db17-1201.
7. Hattori N, et al (2013) Nucleic Acids Res 41:7231-7239. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkt528.