The regulatory systems categorized into three types, neural, humoral and behavioral mechanisms play an important role in maintenance of the homeostasis of the body. These control systems response and compensate by the second, by the minute, by the hour, by the day or by the year to the internal or external stress. Thus, we can preserve and promote our health. The worse lifestyle could induce a breakdown in these regulatory systems, and cause lifestyle-related diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease or obesity. Furthermore, an impairment of regulatory systems involves changes in physical or mental functions.

This laboratory is now working on the following main projects: unraveling the pathogenesis of IBD, the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders.

IBD refers to two chronic diseases that cause inflammation of the intestines: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The cause of IBD remains to be elucidated, but there is much evidence that genetic and epigenetic factors affect the susceptibility to IBD. We aim to clarify the genetic and epigenetic backgrounds of IBD, to determine susceptibility genes in Japanese IBD and to show how the genes affect the susceptibility to IBD.