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RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences Laboratory for Tissue Dynamics

Team Leader: Takaharu Okada (Ph.D.)

Research Summary

Takaharu  Okada(Ph.D.)

The goal of the laboratory is to understand the mechanisms regulating cell migration and interactions in the tissues that shape adaptive immune responses. For this purpose, we use real time imaging, in particular two-photon microscopy, to analyze cellular migration and interactions in the tissues. By applying the imaging strategy to relevant mouse models, we aim to reveal immune cell dynamics that are critical for generation of immunological memory and tolerance, two important features of adaptive immunity.

Main Research Fields

  • Biological Sciences

Related Research Fields

  • Engineering
  • Biology
  • Medicine, Dentistry & Pharmacy

Keywords

  • Inflammation
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Fluorescence imaging
  • Peripheral nervous system

Selected Publications

Papers with an asterisk(*) are based on research conducted outside of RIKEN.

  • 1.Okada T., Takahashi S., Ishida A., and Ishigame H.:
    "In vivo multiphoton imaging of immune cell dynamics."
    Pflugers Arch – Eur J Physiol. 68, 1793-1801. (2016)
  • 2.Shinnakasu R., Inoue T., Kometani K., Moriyama S., Adachi Y., Nakayama M., Takahashi Y., Fukuyama H., Okada T., and Kurosaki T.:
    "Regulated selection of germinal-center cells into the memory B cell compartment."
    Nat Immunol. 17, 861-869. (2016)
  • 3.Kitano M., Yamazaki C., Takumi A., Ikeno T., Hemmi H., Takahashi N., Shimizu K., Fraser S.E., Hoshino K., Kaisho T., and Okada T.:
    "Imaging of the cross-presenting dendritic cell subsets in the skin-draining lymph node."
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 13, 1044-1049. (2016)
  • 4.Moriyama S., Takahashi N., Green J.A., Hori S., Kubo M., Cyster J.G., Okada T.
    "Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 is critical for follicular helper T cell retention in germinal centers."
    J Exp Med. 211, 297-305. (2014)
  • 5.Okada T., Moriyama S., and Kitano M.:
    "Differentiation of germinal center B cells and follicular helper T cells as viewed by tracking Bcl6 expression dynamics."
    Immunol Rev. 247: 120-132 (2012)
  • 6.Hirata E., Yukinaga H., Kamioka Y., Arakawa Y., Miyamoto S., Okada T., Sahai E., and Matsuda M.:
    "In vivo fluorescence resonance energy transfer imaging reveals differential activation of Rho-family GTPases in glioblastoma cell invasion."
    J Cell Sci. 125: 858-868 (2012)
  • 7.Kitano M., and Okada T.:
    "Four-dimensional tracking of lymphocyte migration and interactions in lymph nodes by two-photon microscopy."
    Methods Enzymol. 506: 437-454 (2012)
  • 8.Kitano M., Moriyama S., Ando Y., Hikida M., Mori Y., Kurosaki T., and Okada T.:
    "Bcl6 protein expression shapes pre-germinal center B cell dynamics and follicular helper T cell heterogeneity."
    Immunity. 34: 961-72 (2011)
  • 9.*Allen, C.D., Okada, T., Tang, H.L., and Cyster, J.G.:
    "Imaging of germinal center selection events during affinity maturation."
    Science, 315, 528-531, (2007)
  • 10.*Okada, T., Miller, M.J., Parker, I., Krummel, M.L., Neighbors, M., Hartley, S.B., O’Garra, A., Cahalan, M.D., and Cyster, J.G.:
    "Antigen-engaged B cells undergo chemotaxis toward the T zone and form motile conjugates with helper T cells."
    PLoS Biology 3: 1047-1061(e150) (2005)

Related Links

Lab Members

Principal investigator

Takaharu Okada
Team Leader

Core members

Hidehiro Fukuyama
Deputy Team Leader
Harumichi Ishigame
Research Scientist
Noriko Takahashi
Technical Staff I
Akiko Takumi
Technical Staff I

Contact Information

1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku,
Yokohama City, Kanagawa,
230-0045, Japan
Email: takaharu.okada [at] riken.jp

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