Biography: I am a dentist and a specialist in oral and maxillofacial surgery, who received my training in Japan. My research area focused on osteonecrosis, bone healing, and mechanical stimulation of the jawbone. I developed a new medical device and a CT-based application for bone healing while at Kobe University. In addition, I created a rat model of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, which demonstrates a high frequency of long-lasting exposed necrotic bone. Applying this rat model to mice, I studied abroad and investigated a novel therapeutic for the prevention of this disease using inactive bisphosphonates at UCLA. At the 2024 Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Annual Meeting, I presented novel findings on MRONJ prevention methods. As a result, I am highly familiar with oral surgery techniques for animal experiments, particularly involving mice and rats. Using my techniques, I can create various types of periodontitis models with different severities, ranging from mild to severe. I have developed a novel and severe periodontitis model for this research project. Periodontitis is associated with an increased risk of developing systemic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. My mentor Dr Adamopoulos is an international expert in the area of osteoimmunology who has extensive expertise in osteoclast biology and psoriatic arthritis. In this application I will use periodontal disease to train macrophages and will combine the two models with my periodontitis model and his PsA model. Therefore, my technique can facilitate future research on inflammation-related comorbidities.
Research Summary: Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that often affects people with psoriasis, a skin disorder. About one-third of psoriasis patients develop PsA, typically after living with psoriasis for an average of seven years. We believe that a lasting, overly active immune response, called “trained immunity,” may play a key role in triggering PsA. Trained immunity is when immune cells become more sensitive to stimuli over time, making them respond more aggressively. This study will explore how trained immunity contributes to PsA. Recent findings have shown that infections like periodontitis—a gum disease caused by bacteria—may increase the risk of developing PsA. In PsA patients, bacterial DNA from the mouth has been found in joint fluid, and severe gum disease has been linked to worse PsA symptoms. Additionally, certain immune cell receptors, like CLEC5A, have been identified as important players in this process. To better understand these connections, We will use a ligature-induced periodontitis model, a widely used method that mimics human gum disease. This research aims to uncover how trained immunity drives PsA development, providing valuable insights that could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies for this disease.
