Pharmacology

Prof. MORIOKA Norimitsu

【Research Keywords】
Chronic pain, depression, neuropathic pain, neuropsychiatric disorders, microglia, astrocytes, central nervous system

【Recent highlights】
We found that 1. mitochondrial dysfunction in the hippocampus plays a central role in neuroinflammation leading to emotional disorder induced by chronic pain (Press release, June 2023). 2. REV-ERBs expressed in chondrocytes as potential therapeutic targets for osteoarthritis (Press release, December 2023). 3. RAGE and cannabinoid receptor CB2 were identified as therapeutic targets for trigeminal neuropathy.

Profiles of Faculty and Research Scholars

【Major Papers of the Laboratory】
・Mitochondrial dysfunction and type I interferon signaling induce anxiodepressive-like behaviors in mice with neuropathic pain. Exp. Neurol., 367, 114470, 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114470.
・Stimulation of nuclear receptor REV-ERBs alleviates monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis pathology of mice and the induction of inflammatory molecules expression in primary cultured chondrocytes. Int. Immunopharmacol., 127, 111349, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111349.
・Intranasal Treatment with Cannabinoid 2 Receptor Agonist HU-308 Ameliorates Cold Sensitivity in Mice with Traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain. Cells, 13(23):1943, 2024. doi: 10.3390/cells13231943.
・High mobility group box-1: a therapeutic target for analgesia and associated symptoms in chronic pain. Biochem. Pharmacol., 222:116058, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116058.
・Hippocampal microglial activation induces cognitive impairment and allodynia through neuronal plasticity changes in male mice with neuropathic pain. Behavioural Brain Research, 488:115590, 2025.

【Education】
The purpose of studying pharmacology is to understand the action of drugs in the body, and the mechanism of drugs to diseases. We primarily offer lectures and practices to understand not only drug’s actions but also their connection to diseases. In these educational programs, we provide professional knowledge and skill which are essential to be pharmacists or scientists for drug development.

【Reseach】
Central nervous system mainly consists of neurons and glial cells such as microglia and astrocytes. Dysfunction of not only neurons but also glial cells might be involved in induction of various diseases. Our research topics are to understand roles of glial cells in some neurological disorders, including chronic pain, depression and dementia. In addition, we try to establish a novel therapeutic strategy for creating potential drugs through regulation of glial functions.
 

【Figure explanation】 Nociceptive transduction in spinal dorsal horn
Under chronic pain state, glial cells such as microglia and astrocytes are highly activated, and these responses are involved in induction and maintenance of nociceptive hypersensitivity.


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