M.D., Ph.D. Professor Yasuhiro Takashima
Our bodies are made up of cells. Stem cells produce new cells daily to replace old cells and maintain our bodies. Our laboratory aims to promote health by understanding how to control stem cells. Based on the unique cell culture technologies we have developed, we are working on the following research topics to contribute to society as a whole, not just for the fields of medicine and life sciences: “1: Pluripotent Stem Cells,” “2: Early human development,” “3: Tissue stem cells in organs,” and “4: Non-human primates.”
Research and Education
We successfully established naïve human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), which resemble fertilized eggs, previously. Through that work, we found that, unlike conventional PSCs, naïve PSCs can differentiate into all cell lineages of pregnancy, including the placenta and yolk sac. We have also recently succeeded in creating a stem cell embryo model that mimics human embryonic development. While we are currently trying to produce higher-quality PSCs and make regenerative medicine more accessible, we also continue basic research on early development using stem cell-based embryo models and research aimed at organ regeneration. In addition, we investigate tissue stem cells, aiming to restore the functions of aged or damaged tissues and organs.
We provide students with world-leading research training by addressing unique fundamental research questions related to stem cells and participating in events organized by CiRA and the Graduate School of Medicine at Kyoto University.
Research Overview
Naïve human pluripotent stem cell-based embryo model at implantation
Recent Publications
- Okubo T, Rivron N, Kabata M, Masaki H, Kishimoto K, Semi K, Nakajima-Koyama M, Kunitomi H, Kaswandy B, Sato H, Nakauchi H, Woltjen K, Saitou M, Sasaki E, Yamamoto T, Takashima Y. Hypoblast from human pluripotent stem cells regulates epiblast development. Nature 2024; 626: 357-366 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06871-2.
- Suzuki D, Lan KC, Takashima Y. Using human pluripotent stem cells to dissect trophoblast development. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2023; 83:102126. DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102126.
- Io S, Iemura Y, Takashima Y. Optimized protocol for naive human pluripotent stem cell-derived trophoblast induction. STAR Protocols 2021; 2(4), 100921 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100921
- Io S., Kabata M., Iemura Y., Semi K., Morone N., Minagawa A., Wang B., Okamoto I., Nakamura T., Kojima Y., Iwatani C., Tsuchiya H., Kaswandy B., Kondoh E., Kaneko S., Woltjen K., Saitou M., Yamamoto T., Mandai M., Takashima Y. Capturing human trophoblast development with naive pluripotent stem cells in vitro. Cell Stem Cell 2021; 28(6) 1023-1039 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.03.013
- Takashima Y, Guo G, Loos R, Nichols J, Ficz G, Krueger F, Oxley D, Santos F, Clarke J, Mansfield W, Reik W, Bertone P and Smith A. Resetting transcription factor control circuitry towards ground state pluripotency in human. Cell 2014; 158(6): 1254–69 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.06.052
Laboratory
Professor:Yasuhiro Takashima
e-mail: takashima-g@cira.kyoto-u.ac.jp