Research Unit for Immunodynamics
Unit Leader
Takaharu OKADA (Ph.D.)
Our focus is to understand the mechanisms regulating dynamic cellular interactions in the tissues that shape the immune responses. For this purpose we use real time imaging, in particular multi-photon microscopy, to analyze in vivo cellular migration and interactions. Utilizing this technique, along with other methods used in immunology, we are studying immune cell interactions that promote antibody responses. We also study interactions between immune cells and cancer cells in the lymph node that may lead to suppression of anti-cancer immune responses.
- Physiological function and regulation of synapse formation betweenB cells and helper T cells
- Mechanisms of interaction between tumor and immune cells
- Kitano M. and Okada T.:
"Four-dimensional tracking of lymphocyte migration and interactions in lymph nodes by two-photon microscopy."
Methods Enzymol. 506, 437-54 (2012) - 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(6), 961-72 (2011) - Okada T.:
"Two-photon microscopy analysis of leukocyte trafficking and motility."
Seminars in Immunopathology 32 (3), 215-25 (2010) - Allen C.D., Okada T.#, Tang H.L., and Cyster J.G.# (equal contribution, #corresponding authors):
"Imaging of germinal center selection events during affinity maturation."
Science 178 (5), 2973-8 (2007) - 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. (equal contribution):
"Antigen-engaged b cells undergo chemotaxis toward the T zone and form motile conjugates with helper T cells."
PLoS Biology 3 (6), e150 (2005)
Principal Investigator
- Takaharu OKADA
- Unit Leader
Members
- Saya MORIYAMA
- Noriko TAKAHASHI
- Kyounga SEO
- Akiko TAKUMI
- Takashi IKENO