Dr Takahiro Tsuji

I am a trained clinical opthalmologist doing some lab research in paralell. I was firstly interested in the reorganisation of the actin cytoskelton and its intracellular signal transduction, which is involved in various types of cellular phenomenons (cell cycle progression, cell movement, cancer, neurite reorganization, etc). The key molecules are small GTPase (Rho, Rac and Cdc42). Previously I was interetsed in the cross talks between these small GTPases.

[scald=852:sdl_editor_representation {"caption":""}]

Personal profile

  • 2010-present - Research Fellow of Department of Biophysical Genetics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University
  • 2004-2011 - Fukui Red Cross Hospital (Staff in Ophthalmology; Fukui, Japan) 2010 ~ 2011 Deputy Head of Ophthalmology 2009 Japanese Board of Ophthalmology (License)
  • 2003-2004 - Tenri Hospital (Resident in Ophthalmology; Nara, Japan)
  • 2003-2003 - Kyoto University Hospital (Resident in Ophthalmology; Kyoto, Japan)
  • 1999-2003 - Ph.D, Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
  • 1993-1999 - MD, Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.

Research

My main research interest lies in the elucidation of the failure of social recognition in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at the molecular level. Recently, the two neuropeptides, vasopressin and oxytocin, have been linked in ASD with being of potential therapeutic use.

Oxytocin and vasopressin are released from somata/dendrites as well from axon terminals. The ADP ribosyl cyclase, CD38, has been identified to be involved in central oxytocin release and social recognition. CD38 is transmembrane protein inducing changes in calcium concentration in neurons. I now focus on the molecular actions of CD38 on dendritic and axonal peptide release.

Here in Edinburgh, the lab has discovered a new population of vasopressin expressing cells in the rat retina which project to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Using a combination of SCN in vivo electrophysiology and microdialysis I am currently studying the physiological role of this pathway.

Selected Publications

Liu HX, Lopatina O, Higashida C, Fujimoto H, Akther S, Inzhutova A, Liang M, Zhong J, Tsuji T, Yoshihara T, Sumi K, Ishiyama M, Ma WJ, Ozaki M, Yagitani S, Yokoyama S, Mukaida N, Sakurai T, Hori O, Yoshioka K, Hirao A, Kato Y, Ishihara K, Kato I, Okamoto H, Cherepanov SM, Salmina AB, Hirai H, Asano M, Brown DA, Nagano I, Higashida H. Displays of paternal mouse pup retrieval following communicative interaction with maternal mates. Nat Commun. 2013;4:1346.

Tsuji T*, Higashida C*, Aoki, Y., Islam MS, Dohmoto M, Higashida H. Ect2, an ortholog of Drosophila Pebble, regulates formation of growth cones in primary cortical neurons. Neurochem Int. 2012 Nov;61(6):854-8. (*equal contribution)

Tsuji T*, Higashida C*, Yoshida Y, Islam MS, Dohmoto M, Koizumi K, Higashida H. Ect2, an ortholog of Drosophila's pebble, negatively regulates neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells. Cell Mol Neurobiol., 31(5):663-668, 2011. (*equal contribution)

Islam MS*, Tsuji T*, Higashida C, Takahashi M, Higashida H, Koizumji K. Expression of a Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor, Ect2, in the Developing Mouse Pituitary. J. Neuroendocrinol. 22(5), 477-482, 2010. (*equal contribution)

Dr Takahiro Tsuji publications list (pdf)

This article was published on