Allergic diseases
Pollinosis; Atopic dermatitis; Asthma; Rhinitis; Conjunctivitis; Food allergy. Keywords: Allergen; Environment, Genetic factors, IgE; Th2; etc.
Allergens
Almost all allergens are derived from organisms. House dust mites are a major indoor allergen source common worldwide. Pollen allergy is also distributed worldwide, although responsible plants vary according to regional vegetation.
Research concept
We widely investigate factors that initiate or regulate allergy/Th2 responses (allergens themselves, environment, microorganisms, virus, self factors, etc.) (Takai, AI 2011). 1. What makes an allergen an allergen�H 2. What initiates the sensitization�H 3. Gene-environment interaction. These questions are old and new. They permits us various hypotheses. Studies to answer them have begun on the basis of the recent advances in the basic immunology (innate and acquired immunity) and development of recombinant allergens.
Research characteristics
We dive to the 3-D structure or biochemical functions at molecular levels (Takai, JACl 05; Ichikawa, Genes Cells 09; Nakazawa, FEBS Lett 05). Analyses at cellular levels (Vu JACI 10, Kinoshita, JACI 09; Kato, Allergy 09; JACI 05) also give us important information. With the engineered allergens and insights obtained there, we rise again and investigate in vivo responses (immunology, prophylaxis, and therapy) in animals (Kamijo, JI 09; Kikuchi, JI 06; Hirasawa, JID 10; Nakamura, JID 06). Discussion and collaborations with researchers in various fields are important incubation for new ideas and breakthrough, and mean a lot to us as one of our pleasures in research.
(Toshiro Takai, updated: May 12, 2011)
Journal covers:Displayed with permissions of the journals.
Nakazawa et al. FEBS Letters 2005: <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.febslet.2005.01.088>
Takai et al. European Journal of Biochemistry 2000: (FEBS Journal)
Takai et al. Nature Biotechnology 1997: <http://www.nature.com/nbt>
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