Mineyoshi Aoyama, Ph.D.,M.D., Professor
Hiromasa Aoki, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Kohki Toriuchi, Ph.D., Associate Professor

• Molecular Mechanism of Atherosclerosis
• Pathobiology of Thrombosis and Development of New Therapeutics
• Analysis of Pathophysiological Roles of Sphingolipids in the Development of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Syndromes
• Cellular Mechanism of Wound Healing and Development of New Therapeutics

Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathobiology and Therapeutics aims to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of pathogenesis of specific diseases related to life-style changes and aging processes such as atherothrombosis, diabetes and hypertension. These research activities will enable practical applications including new drug discovery and personalized medicine. In addition, novel education/training programs integrating medical and pharmaceutical sciences are introduced for graduate students. Therapeutic management of human diseases is recently much diversified. We provide state-of-the-art knowledge and technology in functional analysis of pathobiologically important molecules in response to rapidly advancing life sciences. Research units are closely linked to each other and every graduate student will have the opportunity to acquire the most-developed knowledge and technology in life sciences and drug-discovery sciences. Considering recent high-tech and very complex therapeutic procedures in real-world medical scenes our programs provide basic and clinical research activities, including analysis of pathological mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases, potential preventive measures for obesity-related diseases, and development of investigational new drugs. The programs also provide state-of-the-art education and leading-edge research activities on basic and clinical hands-on practice of medical pharmacy, and support diversified pharmacist activities including post-graduate training.

(1) Natural killer T cells implicated deeply in cardiovascular disorders can potently induce plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), the major physiologic inhibitor of fibrinolysis and proteolysis, in liver through interactions with hepatocytes via cytokines and growth factors. PAI-1 can induce fibrosis, thus contributing to hypoxia, induction of HIF-1 and further deteriorating liver functions.

(2) Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a sphingolipid metabolite that regulates many cellular and physiological processes, including cell growth, survival, movement, angiogenesis, vascular maturation, immunity, and lymphocyte trafficking, acts both inside the cells and as an extracellular mediator through binding to five G protein-coupled receptors, S1P1-5. Recent studies suggest that S1P signaling may play a role in many human diseases, including cancer, atherosclerosis, inflammation, and autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University,
3-1, Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan

E-mail:sfujii @ phar.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
TEL:+81-52-836-3451 FAX: +81-52-836-3454