Allergy-related genes; We have been studying mechanism of expression of allergy-related genes with the aim of preventing and treating allergic diseases.
Regulation of IgE receptor expression; ranscriptional regulatory mechanism of the genes encoding subunits of the high affinity receptor for IgE (FcεRI) have been analyzed. One of our recent findings is that the cooperative transactivation of FcεRI α-chain gene by transcription factors, GATA-1 and PU.1. This mast cell-specific regulatory mechanism will be a unique target for anti-allergic medicine.
Polymorphisms of allergy-related genes; Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found in the promoters of FcεRI α- and βb-chain genes have been shown to relate to allergy by affecting promoter function. Analyzing the effect of SNPs by molecular biological techniques will give us useful information for new therapeutic approaches.
Regulation of hematopoietic cell development by transcription factors; Recently, it was found that the expression level of PU.1 determines the cell fate between mast cells and dendritic cells. We will participate in revealing the mechanism of hematopoietic cell development by transcription factors.
(Chiharu Nishiyama, Aug. 26, 2005)
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