Name of supervisor：Hirotaka Matsumoto, DVM, PhD
Position: Professor
ORCID ID：0000-0002-8832-6341
Main research theme: Research on the state of a disease to link to organ in companion animals
Research keywords: fatty acid metabolism, oxidative stress, diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, diagnostic ultrasonography
Lab location : Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2nd floor, Building D
E-mail：matsumoto(@mark)nvlu.ac.jp
Research
Despite advancements in diagnostic techniques, aggressive treatments have not always improved systemic disease states based solely on the correct diagnosis of target organs. Therefore, our focus has shifted to organ communication. For instance, intestinal diseases can facilitate antigen invasion from the mouth to the body, leading to excessive antigen–antibody reactions and systemic inflammatory conditions due to the outflow of intestinal toxins. Furthermore, reduced blood perfusion to the intestinal tract caused by heart diseases can impair the intestinal barrier function, allowing inflammation-inducing substances to the blood flow.
We are investigating the changes in long-chain fatty acids, which serve as substrates for proinflammatory lipid mediators (e.g., eicosanoids) and inflammation-resolving mediators (e.g., resolvins, protectins, and lipoxins). Additionally, we are examining the associations of systemic conditions with the intestinal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids, which are crucial for maintaining the intestinal barrier function, and the balance of the intestinal microflora.
Furthermore, we are calculating the levels of potential oxidative stress and relative oxidative stress, from oxidative stress levels and anti-oxidant capacity, to assess oxidative stress states.
Under the leadership of Lecturer Dr Suzuki, we are also conducting research on cardiac function using echocardiography. While functional evaluation of heart failure primarily focuses on the left heart, the importance of the right heart is often overlooked. Cardiac catheterization and magnetic resonance imaging are common diagnostic methods for heart disease in human medicine, but their applicability in veterinary medicine is limited owing to the need for general anesthesia.
Furthermore, we are investigating the effectiveness of echocardiography, a non-invasive and anesthesia-free diagnostic tool, in diagnosing heart diseases in dogs and cats using model animals and clinical cases.
Guidance policy for graduate students
Leveraging the strengths of a clinical department, we conduct research that demonstrates the high applicability of laboratory data in clinical settings. We actively disseminate our research findings through presentations at academic conferences and publication in peer-reviewed journals. To achieve this, we provide graduate students with comprehensive training, emphasizing on research design, data analysis, manuscript writing, interpretation of findings, and the overall research process. We aim to prepare our graduates for various career paths and not only research positions. We recognize that graduate students of the clinical department will pursue clinical practice (need Japanese license), and we are committed to providing guidance that helps them shape their graduate school experience to become doctors of veterinary medicine and contribute to society, regardless of the career options they choose.
Publications
1.Yuci Y, Suzuki R, Matsumoto. et.al., (Graduate Student First Author)
Influence of heart rate on right ventricular function assessed by right heart catheterization and echocardiography in healthy anesthetized dogs.
BMC．Vet．Res．2022. 6;18(1):166.
doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03271-y.
2.Niina A, Matsumoto H. et.al., 2021. (Graduate Student First Author)
Fecal microbiota transplantation as a new treatment for canine inflammatory bowel disease.
Bioscience of Microbiota, Food and Health. 2021. 40(2) 98-104.
doi: 10.12938/bmfh.2020-049.
3.Yuci Y, Suzuki R, Matsumoto. et.al., (Graduate Student First Author)
Right ventricular systolic and diastolic function assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.
J．Vet．Med．Sci. 2021. 83(12):1918-1927.
doi: 10.1292/jvms.21-0195.
4.Yuci Y, Suzuki R, Matsumoto. et.al., (Graduate Student First Author)
Investigation of the influence of manual ventilation-controlled respiration on right ventricular pressure-volume loops and echocardiographic variables in healthy anesthetized dogs.
Am．J．Vet．Res．2021. (11):865-871.
doi: 10.2460/ajvr.82.11.865.
5.Niina A, Matsumoto H. et.al., 2019. (Graduate Student First Author)
Improvement in Clinical Symptoms and Fecal Microbiome After Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in a Dog with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Vet Med. Research and Reports. 2019(10) 197-201.
doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S230862.
6.Yoshimatsu H, Matsumoto H. et.al., 2016. (Graduate Student First Author)
Serum Fatty Acid Compositions in Dogs with Mitral Insufficiency.
Advances in Animal Cardiology. 2016. 49(1) 11-16.
doi.org/10.11276/jsvc.49.11.
Name of supervisor：Takahiro Teshima, DVM, Ph.D.
Position:Associate Professor
KAKEN researcher number：80610708
ORCID ID：0000-0001-9646-6785
Main research theme: Mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy
Research keywords: anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, regenerative medicine, mesenchymal-stem cell, intractable disease, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disease
Lab location : Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2nd floor, Building D
E-mail：teshima63(@mark)nvlu.ac.jp
Research
Stem cell-based regenerative medicine has made remarkable progress and is expected to be applied to intractable diseases that are difficult to improve with existing therapies. As mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are highly effective in anti-inflammatory and immunomodulation, we research the effects of MSC-based cell therapy focused on autoimmune diseases in which chronic inflammation and immune abnormalities are closely related. Therefore, our research activities range from basic study to clinical research, including functional analysis of MSC in vitro, studies using disease models in vivo, and therapeutic efficacy in clinical trials. In order to establish MSC-based cell therapy, regardless of disease, we believe the key point is how to stabilize cellular function. Currently, we are working on research into the heterogeneity of MSCs focused on intra-populational analysis with the aim of selecting MSCs with superior cellular function.
Guidance policy for graduate students
In accepting postgraduate students, I do not require any experience in cell culture or other molecular biology research. It is important that you have a goal of “realizing MSC-based cell therapy in veterinary medicine” and that you have an objective of what you want to challenge. Although research achievements during the PhD course are important, I believe that it is more important to develop into an independent researcher at the end of the degree. Therefore, I try to provide guidance so that students can acquire the essentials of being a researcher, such as how to plan the research, how to approach the issue, and how to deal with failure, etc., through the PhD course. I invite you to join us in researching MSC-based cell therapies and overcoming intractable diseases.
Publications
1.Y. Yasumura, T. Teshima et al., 2023. （Graduate Student First Author）
Immortalized Canine Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Novel Candidate Cell Source for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy.
Int J Mol Sci. 2023 24(3):2250.
2.Y. Yasumura, T. Teshima et.al., 2022. （Graduate Student First Author）
Optimal Intravenous Administration Procedure for Efficient Delivery of Canine Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
Int J Mol Sci. 2022 23(23):14681.
3.T. Teshima, Y. Yasumura et al., 2022. （Graduate Student Co-Author）
Antiviral Effects of Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Secretome against Feline Calicivirus and Feline Herpesvirus Type 1.
Viruses. 2022 14(8):1687.
4.T. Teshima, et.al., 2021.
Immunomodulatory Effects of Canine Adipose Tissue Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles on Stimulated CD4+ T Cells Isolated from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.
J Immunol Res. 2021 2021:2993043.
5.T. Teshima, et.al., 2020. Generation of Insulin-Producing Cells from Canine Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
Stem Cells Int. 2020 2020:8841865.
6.T. Teshima, et.al., 2019. Comparison of Properties of Stem Cells Isolated from Adipose Tissue and Lipomas in Dogs.
Stem Cells Int. 2019 2019:1609876.
7.T. Teshima, et.al., 2018. Soluble factors from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote canine hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and invasion.
PLoS One. 2018 13(1):e0191539.
8.T. Teshima, et.al., 2017. Allogenic Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate Acute Hepatic Injury in Dogs.
Stem Cells Int. 2017 2017:3892514.
