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Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) regulate various physiological and pathological processes, in addition to their role in inducing bone formation. It is widely accepted that the biological effects of BMPs are cell-type-specific and context-dependent. In the field of stem cell research, for example, BMP4 sustains the self-renewal of naïve mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), while promoting differentiation in other pluripotent stem cell types, including primed human ESCs. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, my objective is to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind the cell-type-specific effects of BMPs.
First, my focus is on vascular endothelial cells (ECs). Disruptions in this signaling pathway can lead to genetic vascular diseases, such as hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Our research group conducted ChIP-seq experiments on SMAD transcription factors, elucidating how SMAD recognizes its target sites on the genome. Furthermore, we have performed a functional analysis of the transcription factor ATOH8, a direct target of SMAD1/5. Interestingly, our findings suggest that ATOH8 may counteract hypoxic signaling in ECs, thereby preventing the development of PAH. Additionally, we have demonstrated that ATOH8 plays a role in regulating bone remodeling in adult bones through collaboration with Dr. Maeda at Kagoshima University.
Second, I revisited the role of BMPs in mouse ESCs maintained in two different pluripotent states: naïve and primed. We demonstrated that the BMP-SMAD pathway is dispensable for maintaining naïve pluripotency. Currently, we are focusing on the roles of the SMAD pathway during differentiation and cell fate decisions of mouse ESCs.
Lastly, I developed an activin/myostatin/GDF11-selective ligand trap, FSTL3-Fc. Myostatin (MSTN), also known as growth differentiation factor 8 (GDF8), acts as an inhibitor of normal muscle growth. Additionally, GDF11 and activins redundantly function as negative regulators of muscle growth. We discovered that the monovalent form of FSTL3-Fc has a longer serum half-life and induces systemic muscle hypertrophy in WT mice and a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We believe that monovalent FSTL3-based therapy addresses the challenges associated with current anti-myostatin therapies.
2022-Present | Associate Professor, Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization (ACRO), Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan |
2016-2022 | Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan |
2012-2015 | Post-doctoral fellow, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden |
2011-2012 | Project Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan |
2006-2007 | Fellow in Hematology, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan |
2004-2006 | Resident in Internal Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan |
2007-2011 | Ph.D. in Medicine, The University of Tokyo (Supervisor: Prof. Kohei Miyazono) |
1998-2004 | M.D., The University of Tokyo |
2023 | Research grant from the Takeda Science Foundation |
2023 | Research grant from The Mochida Memorial Foundation for Medical and Pharmaceutical Research |
2021 | Award for the Best Short Talk, virtual FASEB Science Research Conference, The TGF-β Superfamily Conference: Signaling in Development and Disease Certificate |
2014 | Best Poster Award, TGF-β meeting in Leiden 2014 Certificate |
2013 | Scholarship for Research Abroad from Saga prefecture: ITO Genboku and SAGARA Chian Memorial Scholarship |
2012 | Best Poster Award, TGF-β meeting in Leiden 2012 Certificate |
2011 | Scholarship for Research Abroad from Kanae Foundation |
2011 | Award for the best oral presentation by a young investigator, 9th Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) Scientific Conference Certificate |
2011 | Graduated with distinction (Valedictorian) |
Oct 2007 | Board Certified Member of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine #34547 |
Apr 2004 | Full Medical License (Japan) #438446 |
Membership: | |
The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine | |
The Japanese Biochemical Society | |
The Molecular Biology Society of Japan | |
The Japanese Cancer Association |
International: | |
Oct 12, 2022 | 13th International BMP Conference, Dubrovnik, Croatia "Follistatin-like 3-based ligand trap increases muscle mass in mice" (Oral, Invited) Morikawa M, Miyazono K |
July 21, 2021 | virtual FASEB Science Research Conference, The TGF-β Superfamily Conference: Signaling in Development and Disease "Systemic administration of monovalent follistatin-like 3-Fc-fusion protein increases muscle mass in mice" (Selected Poster Oral) Morikawa M, Ozawa T, Miyazono K |
Oct 24, 2018 | 12th International BMP Conference, Tokyo, Japan "The ALK-1/SMAD/ATOH8 axis protects against hypoxia and development of pulmonary arterial hypertension" (Oral) Morikawa M, Mitani Y, Holmborn K, Koinuma D, Kageyama R, Maruyama K, Heldin CH, Miyazono K |
Sep 18, 2014 | 10th International BMP Conference, Berlin, Germany "Differential roles of BMP-induced Smad and non-Smad signals in naïve mouse ES cells" (Oral, Invited) Morikawa M, Koinuma D, Heldin CH, Miyazono K |
Oct 28, 2013 | 3rd International Symposium by JSPS Core-to-Core Program, Cooperative International Framework in TGF-β Family Signaling "Differential roles of BMP signaling in embryonic stem cells" (Oral) Morikawa M |
May 24, 2011 | 9th Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) Scientific Conference, Antalya, Turkey "Genome-wide analysis of Smad1/5 binding sitesin endothelial cells" (Oral) Morikawa M, Koinuma D, Tsutsumi S, Vasilaki E, Heldin CH, Aburatani H, Miyazono K |
National: | |
Mar 6, 2011 | 4th retreat of Global COE, Integrative Life Science Based on the Study of Biosignaling Mechanisms, Hokuto "Genome-wide analysis of Smad1/5 binding sitesin endothelial cells" (Oral) Morikawa M, Koinuma D, Tsutsumi S, Vasilaki E, Heldin CH, Aburatani H, Miyazono K |
Dec 9, 2010 | 33rd Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan, Kobe "Genome-wide analysis of Smad1/5 binding sitesin endothelial cells" (Oral) Morikawa M, Koinuma D, Tsutsumi S, Vasilaki E, Heldin CH, Aburatani H, Miyazono K |
Seminar: | |
Oct 8, 2013 | Center for Human Genetics and VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven, Belgium "Genome-wide mechanisms of BMP/Smad signaling" Morikawa M |