RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences Laboratory for Cell Signaling
Team Leader: Takashi Saito (Ph.D.)
Research Summary

The general goal of this laboratory is to elucidate the mechanism of activation, differentiation and function, and its regulation of T cells which play central roles in the regulation of immune responses and homeostasis. These include the regulation of immunological synapse, T cell receptor-induced signal transduction, co-stimulation regulation and signaling in T cell development. Particularly, the mechanism to induce autoimmune diseases and inflammations caused by aberrant regulation of T cell function and activation will be analyzed to aim to overcome the diseases.
Main Research Fields
- Medicine, Dentistry & Pharmacy
Related Research Fields
- Biology
Keywords
- T lymphocyte
- lymphocyte activation
- Immune regulation
- Immunological synapse
- autoimmunity
Selected Publications
- 1.Hashimoto-Tane, A., Sakuma, M., Ike, H., Yokosuka, T., Kimura, Y., Ohara, O. and Saito, T.:
"Micro adhesion-ring surrounding TCR microclusters are essential for T cell activation."
J. Exp. Med. 213:1609-1625 (2016). - 2.Takeuchi, A., Badr, M.E.S.G., Miyauchi, K., Ishihara C., Onishi R., Guo Z., Sasaki, T., Ike H., Takumi, A., Tsuji N.M., Murakami, Y., Katakai, T. and Saito, T.:
"CRTAM determines the CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte lineage."
J. Exp.Med. 213:123-138 (2016). - 3.Hara, H., Yokosuka, T., Hirakawa, H., Ishihara, C., Yasukawa, S., Yamazaki, M., Koseki, H., Yoshida, H. and Saito, T. :
"Clustering of CARMA1 through SH3-GUK domain interactions is required for its activation of NF-kB signaling."
Nat. Commun. 6:5555 (2015). - 4.Imanishi, T., Ishihara C., El Sherif Badr, M., Kimura Y, Kawai, T., Takeuchi, O., Taniguchi, S-I., Noda, T., Hirano, H., Brombacher, F., Barber, G., Akira, S. and Saito, T.:
"Nucleic acid sensing by T cells initiates Th2 cell differentiation."
Nat.Commun.5:3566 (2014). - 5.Tsukumo, S., Unno, M., Muto, A., Takeuchi, A., Kometani, K., Kurosaki, T., Igarashi, K. and Saito, T.:
"Bach2 maintains T cells in naïve state by suppressing effector memory-related genes."
Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci. 110: 10735-10740 (2013). - 6.Yokosuka, T., Takamatsu, M., Kobayashi-Imanishi, W., Hashimoto-Tane, A., Azuma, M. and Saito, T.:
"Programmed cell death-1 forms negative costimulatory microclusters that directly inhibit T cell receptor signals by recruitment of phosphatase SHP2."
J. Exp. Med. 209:1201-1217 (2012) - 7.Hashimoto-Tane, A., Yokosuka, T., Sakata-Sogawa, K., Sakuma, M., Ishihara, C., Tokunaga, M. and Saito, T.:
"Dynein-driven transport of T cell receptor microclusters regulates immune synapse and T cell activation."
Immunity 34:919-931 (2011). - 8.Yokosuka T., Kobayashi, W., Takamatsu, Sakata-Sogawa, K., Zang, H., Hashimoto-Tane, A., M., Yagita, H., Tokunaga, M. and Saito, T.:
"Spatiotemporal basis of CTLA4-mediated negative regulation of T-cell activation."
Immunity 33:326-339 (2010). - 9.Yamasaki, S., Ishikawa, E., Sakuma, M., Ogata, K. and Saito, T.:
"Mincle is an ITAM-coupled activating receptor that senses damaged cells."
Nat. Immunol. 9: 1179-1188 (2008). - 10.Yokosuka, T., Kobayashi, W., Sakata-Sogawa, K., Hashimoto-Tane, A., Dustin, M.L., Tokunaga, M. and Saito, T.:
"Spatiotemporal regulation of T cell costimulation by TCR-CD28 microclusters through protein kinase C θ translocation."
Immunity. 29: 589-601 (2008).
Recent Research Results
Apr. 19, 2019
Adaptor protein inhibits T-cell activationApr. 10, 2015
Closing in on cancerous clustersMay 30, 2014
Dying cells trigger immunity
Related Links
Lab Members
Principal investigator
- Takashi Saito
- Team Leader
Core members
- Takayuki Imanishi
- Senior Research Scientist
- Natsuko Tanimura
- Research Scientist
- Machie Sakuma
- Technical Staff I
- Midori Unno
- Technical Staff I
- Noriko Yoza
- Expert Technician
- Natsumi Yoneda
- Technical Staff II
Contact Information
1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku,
Yokohama City, Kanagawa,
230-0045, Japan
Tel: +81-(0)45-503-7037
Fax: +81-(0)45-503-7036
Email: takashi.saito [at] riken.jp