From Mucosal Immunity to Novel Therapies for Allergy and Inflammatory Diseases

Immunity is not defined by individual cells alone, but by the tissue environment in which they reside.

From this perspective, we are pioneering a new frontier in immunology.

At the Kurashima Laboratory (Department of International Allergy and Mucosal Immunology / Department of Innovation Medicine),

we focus on the mucosa, the frontline of immune defense.

By elucidating the complex tissue environment shaped by immune cells, mesenchymal (structural) cells, epithelial cells, neurons, and the microbiota, we aim to develop new strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of allergy and inflammatory diseases.

While conventional immunology has largely centered on immune cells, our approach emphasizes the diverse cellular components that constitute tissues and their dynamic interactions. In particular, we have demonstrated that mesenchymal (structural) cells, traditionally regarded as merely supportive, play a pivotal role in directing immune responses.

Furthermore, we are uncovering how multi-layered networks—including inter-organ communication (especially involving the gut), neuro-immune crosstalk, and host–microbiota interactions—govern immune homeostasis and the onset of disease.

Three Research Projects

 1. SCAI Project

 Structural Cells Affect/Ameliorate Immunity, Infection and Inflammation
　Focusing on the tissue-specific influence of mesenchymal (structural) cells on immunity, this project aims to elucidate their multifaceted 　roles, including:　

1. 　Peripheral education of immune cells
2. 　Regulation of epithelial differentiation and maintenance of the mucosal barrier
3. 　Functional reprogramming leading to fibrosis and tumorigenesis

　Through these approaches, we seek to establish new strategies for controlling inflammatory and fibrotic diseases.

 2. Mucosal Organ Axis Project

   The gut does not function as an isolated organ, but rather as part of a system-wide network of interacting organs.
　In this project, we aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which organ networks—including the microbiota, nervous system, and pancreas—　

　cooperatively regulate the intestinal environment, based on the concept of organ crosstalk.

　In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we have identified a phenomenon in which the tissue invasion of pathogenic microbiota is controlled 　through coordinated interactions among multiple organs.

　Building on this finding, we are advancing a new conceptual framework of “disease regulation through organ networks”, and exploring its 　translational applications.

  3. Immune Switch Project — Turning Allergy ON to OFF

　Allergy is not an uncontrollable response.
　In this project, we focus on the plasticity of immune cells to elucidate the mechanisms of an “immune switch” that transitions from an

　allergy-inducing state (ON) to a state that suppresses allergy and inflammation (OFF).

　By uncovering the mechanisms underlying the functional reprogramming of immune cells, including mast cells, we aim to establish novel 　therapeutic strategies that enable the fundamental control of allergic diseases.

　These research programs are conducted in close collaboration with the Chiba University Synergy Institute for Futuristic Mucosal Vaccine Research and Development (cSIMVa), with a clear vision spanning from basic science to clinical and societal implementation.

Our work is being translated into next-generation medical technologies, including mucosal vaccines, antibody therapeutics, and microbiota-based interventions.

Join Us

　We value cross-disciplinary challenges and open, dynamic discussions.
We warmly welcome research students, undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and collaborative research partners.

• “I want to challenge myself with new research.”
• “I want to uncover the fundamental mechanisms of disease.”
• “I want to translate research into real-world applications.”

If you share this vision, we would be delighted to work together.

We sincerely welcome inquiries regarding lab visits and collaborative opportunities.

Greetings

Projects

Life in Lab

• 千葉大みらい医療基金
• 千葉大学
• 千葉大学 大学院医学研究院・医学部
• 千葉大学 医学部附属病院