Member

University Professor

SASAZUKI Takehiko

University Professor of Institute for Advanced Study, Kyushu University

Dr. Takehiko Sasazuki died on February 1, 2023.
We pray that his soul may rest in peace.

Specialized Fields :Immunogenetics

Pioneer research in Human Immunogenetics

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas, by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, “Production, function and structure of neo-self”

Message

Strong international competition in recruiting young able people who have a full of curiosity and passion has been growing in intensity in the world. Because the world realized that the intellectual and technological innovation and development of human resources are essential to ensure the continuous development of human society with a high quality of culture and civilization for future.

I would like to dedicate my whole ability to the Institute for Advanced Study, which was newly established in Kyushu University, to be a place for new knowledge and technology development, and above all, a place for nurturing and sending out of outstanding young researchers.

Academic Background

March 1965: Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University
March 1970: Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University(MD)

Occupation Background

April 1970: Research Associate of Tokyo Medical and Dental University
August 1973: Research Associate of Stanford University
August 1976: Associate Professor of Tokyo Medical and Dental University
June 1977: Professor of Tokyo Medical and Dental University
March 1983: Professor of Kyushu University
April 1990: Director of Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University
October 2001: Director of the Research Institute of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine
October 2002: Professor Emeritus of Kyushu University
April 2004: President of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine
April 2008: President Emeritus of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine
October 2009: University Professor of Institute for Advanced Study, Kyushu University
December 2019: The member of the Japan Academy

Academic Awards・Awards

F.Y.1984: Mochida Memorial Award
F.Y.1989: Award from the Japan Society of Human Genetics
F.Y.1994: Chiba-Geigy Rheumatology Award
F.Y.1996: Paris Distinguished Service Award(France)
F.Y.1999: Japan Medical Association Medical Award
F.Y.2001: Takeda Medical Science Prize
F.Y.2002: Medal with Purple Ribbon
F.Y.2003: Rose Payne Distinguished Scientist賞（The U.S.A)
F.Y.2017: The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star

Publication List

I.Regulation of immune response by HLA

Fukui, Y., Hashimoto, O., Sanui, T., Oono, T., Koga, H., Abe, M., Inayoshi, A., Noda, M., Oike, M., Shirai T. & Sasazuki, T. Hematopoietic cell-specific CDM family protein DOCK2 is essential for lymphocyte migration. Nature 412, 826-831 (2001).
Fukui, Y., Ishimoto, T., Utsuyama, M., Gyotoku, T., Koga, T., Nakao, K., Hirokawa, K., Katsuki, M. & Sasazuki, T. Positive and negative CD4+ thymocyte selection by a single MHC class Ⅱ/peptide ligand affected by its expression level in the thymus. Immunity 6, 401-410 (1997)
Hirayama, K., Matsushita, S., Kikuchi, I., Iuchi, M., Ohta, N. & Sasazuki, T. HLA-DQ is epistatic to HLA-DR in controlling the immune response to schistosomal antigen in humans. Nature 327, 426-430 (1987).
Nishimura, Y. & Sasazuki, T. Suppressor T cells control the HLA-linked low responsiveness to streprococcal antigen in man. Nature 301, 67-69 (1983).
Sasazuki, T., Kohno, Y., Iwamoto, I., Tanimura M & Naito, S. Association between an HLA haplotype and low responsiveness to tetanus toxoid in man. Nature 272, 359-361 (1978).

II. Control of autoimmune diseases and allergies by HLA

Sasazuki, T., Inoko, H., Morishima, S. & Morishima, Y. Gene Map of the HLA Region, Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto Thyroiditis, and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Adv immunol 129,175-249 (2016).
Ueda, S., Oryoji, D., Yamamoto, K., Noh, JY., Okamura, K., Noda, M., Kashiwase, K., Kosuga, Y., Sekiya, K., Inoue, K., Yamada, H., Oyamada, A., Nishimura, Y., Yoshikai, Y., Ito, K., & Sasazuki, T. Identification of independent susceptible and protective HLA alleles in Japanese autoimmune thyroid disease and their epistasis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 99, E379-83 (2014).
Uno, H., Sasazuki, T., Tamai, H. & Matsumoto, H. Two major genes, linked to HLA and Gm, control susceptibility to Graves’ disease. Nature 292, 768-770 (1981).

III. Graft versus host (GvH) disease caused by HLA mismatched combination in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Sasazuki, T., Juji, T., Morishima, Y., Kinukawa, N., Kashiwabara, H., Inoko, H., Yoshida, T., Kimura, A., Akaza, T., Kamikawaji, N., Kodera, Y. & Takaku, F. Effect of matching of class I HLA alleles on clinical outcome after transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells from an unrelated donor. New Engl. J. Med. 339, 1177-1185 (1998)

IV. Recognition of HLA・peptide complex by T cell receptor(TCR)

Kusano, S., Kukimoto-Niino, M., Satta, Y., Ohsawa, N., Uchikubo-Kamo, T., Wakiyama, M., Ikeda, M., Terada, T., Yamamoto, K., Nishimura, Y., Shirouzu, M., Sasazuki, T. & Yokoyama, S. Structural basis for the specific recognition of the major antigenic peptide from the Japanese cedar pollen allergen Cry j 1 by HLA-DP5. J Mol Biol. 426, 3016-27 (2014) .

V. Molecular mechanisms of non-immune mediated monogenic disorders

Harada, F., Kimura, A., Iwanaga, T., Shimozawa, K., Yata, J. & Sasazuki, T. Gene conversion-like events cause steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency in congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 84, 8091-8094 (1987) .

VI. Molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis

Shirasawa, S., Furuse, M., Yokoyama, N. & Sasazuki, T. Altered growth of human colon cancer cell lines disrupted at activated Ki-ras. Science 260, 85-88 (1993).

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