This study investigates the second impact of acute total body irradiation on thymic epithelial cells, finding reduced mTEC frequencies and altered gene expression during the second impact phase.

Heliyon · Jul 1, 2026Peer-reviewedImmunology

A chromatin relay from AIRE to ETS transcription factors sustains peripheral antigen expression in the thymic mimetic cells to ensure central tolerance.

Kenta Horie, Takahisa Miyao, Yuko Yamagata, Yuki Takakura, Fuyoko Suzuki, Naho Hagiwara, Rin Endo, Maki Miyauchi, Hiroto Ishii, Wataru Muramatsu, Yuki Goda, Tatsuya Ishikawa, Jun‐ichiro Inoue, Nobuaki Yoshida, N Yamaguchi, , Taishin Akiyama

The paper identifies EHF and ELF3 as key ETS transcription factors that sustain AIRE-primed gene expression in post-AIRE mimetic thymic epithelial cells, ensuring central tolerance.

bioRxiv · Feb 5, 2026 · PreprintImmunology

TCR repertoire analysis quantifies effect of irradiation to homeostasis of iNKT cell development in the thymus of mice

Kazumasa B. Kaneko, Mio Hayama, Nanako Uchida, Takahisa Miyao, Nobuko Akiyama, Taishin Akiyama, Tetsuya J. Kobayashi

The paper quantifies how irradiation affects iNKT cell development in the thymus of mice by analyzing TCR repertoire changes and recovery dynamics.

Genes to Cells · Dec 22, 2025Peer-reviewedImmunology

ASCL1 primes medullary thymic epithelial cell programs required for central tolerance

Nobuko Akiyama, Kenta Horie, Kano Namiki, Jen-Chien Chang, Maki Miyauchi, Takahisa Miyao, Nanako Uchida, Naho Hagiwara, Masaki Yoshida, Mizuki Morota, Tsukasa Kouno, Miki Kojima, Jonathan Moody, Yoshinari Ando, Hirotake Ichise, , Taishin Akiyama

The paper identifies ASCL1 as a key regulator of mTEC function and central tolerance by analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing data from thymoma patients and mouse models.

bioRxiv · Aug 6, 2025 · PreprintImmunology

Direct and indirect RANK ligand and CD40 ligand signaling regulate the maintenance of thymic epithelial cell frequency and properties in the adult thymus

Mio Hayama, Hiroto Ishii, Maki Miyauchi, Masaki Yoshida, Naho Hagiwara, Wataru Muramtatu, Kano Namiki, Rin Endo, Takahisa Miyao, Nobuko Akiyama, Taishin Akiyama

This study shows that RANKL and CD40L signaling maintain mTEC frequency and TEC progenitor properties in the adult thymus through direct and indirect mechanisms.

Frontiers in Immunology · Nov 29, 2024Peer-reviewedImmunology

Establishing a method for the cryopreservation of viable peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the International Space Station

Hiroto Ishii, Rin Endo, Sanae Hamanaka, Nobuyuki Hidaka, Maki Miyauchi, Naho Hagiwara, Takahisa Miyao, Tohru Yamamori, Tatsuya Aiba, Nobuko Akiyama, Taishin Akiyama

This study develops a cryopreservation method for blood cells under ISS constraints, demonstrating viability recovery and subset analysis using flow cytometry.

npj Microgravity · Aug 9, 2024Peer-reviewedCell Biology

A single-cell atlas of transcribed cis-regulatory elements in the human genome

Jonathan Moody, Tsukasa Kouno, Miki Kojima, Ikuko Koya, Julio Leon, Akari Suzuki, Akira Hasegawa, Taishin Akiyama, Nobuko Akiyama, Masayuki Amagai, Jen-Chien Chang, Ayano Fukushima‐Nomura, Mika Handa, Kazunori Hino, Mizuki Hino, , Chung-Chau Hon

The paper constructs a single-cell atlas of transcribed cis-regulatory elements in the human genome, revealing gene regulation patterns and trait-gene relationships across cell populations.

bioRxiv · Nov 13, 2023 · PreprintGenomics