Research Overview
Pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteriosis (NTM) often presents with bronchiectasis on chest CT images, but the reason behind bronchial dilation remains unclear. Recently, attention has been drawn to the differences in the characteristics of airways, including the upper airways such as the nasal cavity, the central airways with cartilage and mucous glands, and the peripheral airways, which lack these features. In this study, we aim to elucidate the pathology of NTM and bronchiectasis by pathologically evaluating surgically resected lungs using molecular biological markers. Additionally, we perform genetic editing studies on primary human airway epithelial cell cultures derived from various airway regions.
We have recently adopted advanced techniques such as spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA analysis. By evaluating these findings in combination with clinical samples from both healthy individuals and patients with the disease, our ultimate goal is to translate the research findings into clinical applications.
(This is a collaborative study with Dr. Takanori Asakura from Kitasato University School of Pharmacy, Department of Biological Regulation, Keio University School of Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.)
Major Research Findings
Currently preparing the manuscript for submission, and it will be published upon acceptance.