Research
Faculty Members
Clinical Science and Biomedicine（Medical and Health Sciences）
Obana MasanoriAssociate professor
I have experience conducting drug discovery research at a pharmaceutical company and am currently involved in biomedical research. The goal of my research is to develop novel therapeutic strategies for patients suffering from diseases. I will contribute to broadening the scope of life sciences by promoting interdisciplinary research and valuing free-thinking.
Research theme
Development of novel therapeutic strategies for chronic kidney disease based on the elucidation of the pathological mechanisms
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is attracting attention as a new national disease. Because CKD is a risk factor not only for the development of end-stage kidney disease but also for the cardiovascular diseases, novel therapeutic strategies to prevent and/or mitigate CKD are urgently needed. To develop novel strategies for CKD, we are searching for new molecules involved in the pathogenesis of CKD.
Research on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and myocardial regeneration
Japan is expected to face a heart failure pandemic due to the super-aging society. We are conducting research on the role of inflammatory cells in cardiac diseases and the self-repair ability of cardiomyocytes to development novel therapies for heart failure.
Representative achievements
Miyake Y, Obana M (Co-first author, Corresponding author), Nakae T, Yamamoto A, Tanaka S, Maeda M, Okada Y, Fujio Y. PKNOX2 regulates myofibroblast functions and tubular cell survival during kidney fibrosis. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2021;571: 88-95.
Nakae T, Obana M (Co-first author, Corresponding author), Maeda T, Ikeda A, Miyazaki H, Tanaka S, Maeda M, Yamashita K, Terai K, Obika S, Fujio Y*. Gene Transfer by Pyro-Drive Jet Injector is a Novel Therapeutic Approach for Muscle Diseases. Gene. 2021;788:145664.
Yamamoto A, Morioki H, Nakae T, Miyake Y, Harada T, Noda S, Mitsuoka S, Matsumoto K, Tomimatsu M, Kanemoto S, Tanaka S, Maeda M, Conway SJ, Imaizumi K, Fujio Y, Obana M (Corresponding author). Transcription factor old astrocyte specifically induced substance is a novel regulator of kidney fibrosis. FASEB Journal. 2021;35(2):e21158.
Matsumoto K, Obana M, Kobayashi A, Kihara M, Shioi G, Miyagawa S, Maeda M, Sakata Y, Nakayama H, Sawa Y, Fujio Y. Blockade of NKG2D/NKG2D Ligand Interaction Attenuated Cardiac Remodeling after Myocardial Infarction. Cardiovascular Research. 2019;115(4):765-775.
Enomoto D, Matsumoto K, Yamashita T, Kobayashi A, Maeda M, Nakayama H, Obana M (Corresponding author), Fujio Y. RORγt-expressing cells attenuate cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction. PLoS One. 2017;12(8):e0183584.
Miyawaki A, Obana M, Mitsuhara Y, Orimoto A, Nakayasu Y, Yamashita T, Fukada SI, Maeda M, Nakayama H, Fujio Y. Adult murine cardiomyocytes exhibit regenerative activity with cell cycle reentry through STAT3 in the healing process of myocarditis. Scientific Reports. 2017;7(1):1407.
Minamitani T, Ma Y, Zhou H, Kida H, Tsai CY, Obana M, Okuzaki D, Fujio Y, Kumanogoh A, Zhao B, Kikutani H, Kieff E, Gewurz BE, Yasui T. Mouse model of Epstein-Barr virus LMP1- and LMP2A-driven germinal center B-cell lymphoproliferative disease. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2017;114(18):4751-4756.
Tanaka T, Obana M (Co-first author), Mohri T, Ebara M, Otani Y, Maeda M, Fujio Y. Interleukin-27 induces the endothelial differentiation in Sca-1+ cardiac resident stem cells. Cytokine. 2015;75(2):365-72.
Obana M, Miyamoto K, Murasawa S, Iwakura T, Hayama A, Yamashita T, Shiragaki M, Kumagai S, Miyawaki A, Takewaki K, Matsumiya G, Maeda M, Yoshiyama M, Nakayama H, Fujio Y. Therapeutic administration of IL-11 exhibits the postconditioning effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury via STAT3 in the heart. American Journal of Physiology Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 2012;303(5): H569-77.
Obana M, Maeda M, Takeda K, Hayama A, Mohri T, Yamashita T, Nakaoka Y, Komuro I, Takeda K, Matsumiya G, Azuma J, Fujio Y. Therapeutic activation of STAT3 by Interleukin-11 ameliorates cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction. Circulation. 2010;121(5): 684-91.
