Biology subjects

Itakura, H.

Publications and source records attributed to Itakura, H..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

A decade after being listed as Endangered: Japanese eel stock inferred from fishery-dependent and independent monitoring records (Preprint)

This study assesses recent trends in the abundance of Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica), which have been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 2014, by updating previously reported coastal fisheries datasets and incorporating new freshwater data and scientific monitoring records for glass eels in Japan and Taiwan. Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data for yellow and silver eels revealed statistically significant declines in seven of eight datasets, with projected reductions over three generations (24 years) ranging from 79.2% to 99.9%. In contrast, no significant temporal trends were detected in the CPUE of glass eels, likely due to high interannual variability driven by oceanic conditions. The integration of freshwater and coastal data, along with fishery-independent monitoring, enhances the reliability of these indicators. The results provided in this study represent the best currently available indicators of Japanese eel population dynamics.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2025

Response to anti-angiogenic therapy is affected by AIMP protein family activity in glioblastoma and lower-grade gliomas

BackgroundGlioblastoma (GBM) is a highly vascularized, heterogeneous tumor, yet anti-angiogenic therapies have yielded limited survival benefits. The lack of validated predictive biomarkers for treatment response stratification remains a major challenge. Aminoacyl tRNA synthetase complex-interacting multicomplex proteins (AIMPs) 1/2/3 have been implicated in CNS diseases, but their roles in gliomas remain unexplored. We investigated their association with angiogenesis and their significance as predictive biomarkers for anti-angiogenic treatment response. MethodsIn this multi-cohort retrospective study we analyzed glioma samples from TCGA, CGGA, Rembrandt, Gravendeel, BELOB and REGOMA trials, and four single-cell transcriptomic datasets. Multi-omic analyses incorporated transcriptomic, epigenetic, and proteomic data. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the prognostic value of AIMPs in heterogeneous and homogeneous treatment-groups. Using single-cell transcriptomics, we explored spatial and cell-type-specific AIMP2 expression in GBM. ResultsAIMP1/2/3 expressions correlated significantly with angiogenesis across TCGA cancers. In gliomas, AIMPs were upregulated in tumor vs. normal tissues, higher- vs. lower-grade gliomas, and recurrent vs. primary tumors (p<0.05). Upon retrospective analysis of two clinical trials assessing different anti-angiogenic drugs, we found that high-AIMP2 subgroups had improved response to therapies in GBM (REGOMA: HR 4.75 [1.96-11.5], p<0.001; BELOB: HR 2.3 [1.17-4.49], p=0.015). AIMP2-cg04317940 methylation emerged as a clinically applicable stratification marker. Single-cell analysis revealed homogeneous AIMP2 expression in tumor tissues, particularly in AC-like cells, suggesting a mechanistic link to tumor angiogenesis. ConclusionsThese findings provide novel insights into the role of AIMPs in angiogenesis, offering improved patient stratification and therapeutic outcomes in recurrent GBM.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2022

Paradoxical tumor suppressive role of the musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma gene in colorectal cancer

Somatic cell reprogramming using the microRNAs miR200c, miR-302s, and miR-369s leads to increased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors in human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and suppressed tumor growth. Here, we investigated whether these microRNAs inhibit colorectal tumorigenesis in CPC;Apc mice, which are prone to colon and rectal polyps. Repeated administration of microRNAs inhibited polyp formation. Microarray analysis indicated that c-MAF, which reportedly shows oncogene-like behavior in multiple myeloma and T-cell lymphoma, decreased in tumor samples but increased in microRNA-treated normal mucosa. Immunohistochemistry identified downregulation of c-MAF as an early tumorigenesis event in CRC, with low c-MAF expression associated with poor prognosis. Of note, c-MAF expression and p53 protein levels were inversely correlated in CRC samples. c-MAF knockout led to enhanced tumor formation in azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate-treated mice, with activation of cancer-promoting genes. c-MAF may play a tumor-suppressive role in CRC development.

molecular biology↗