[Jun. 28] D5 Seminar- Dr. Mari Sato (Hokkaido University)

May 22 2023

The "D5 Medical & Life Science Seminar" course will be offered by International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS). It will run from May 2023 to March 2024, with lectures given by scientists who are affiliated with IRCMS or in collaboration with researchers at IRCMS. The lectures will be given once a month, in English, and by leading scientists in the relevant research field. Students will be taught: 1) how normal physiological functions are maintained in the human body; 2) how these systems become abnormal under certain pathophysiologic conditions; 3) why stem cells are important in animal development and homeostasis; 4) how stem cell-based approaches can help us understand disease mechanisms and find potential cure for diseases related to stem cell malfunction (e.g., cancer, aging).

Anyone who wants to join is welcome.
For students who have registered for the course, please check your attendance in Moodle.

Date      : June 28, 2023 (Wednesday)

Time      : 16:00 - 17:00
               

Speaker : Mari Sato, Ph.D.  (Hokkaido University)
               

Title       :  Bone is hearing. Fat is seeing. 

Abstract  :

Bone and fat cells are neighbors or residents of bone marrow. I will talk about their unique sensory functions. Bone is container of bone marrow and mainly consists of mechanosensing cells, osteocytes. We elucidated that ultrasound stimulation (providing an acoustic radiation force) affect osteocytes and promote fracture healing using fish models, zebrafish which have natural osteocyte-rich bone and medaka which have natural osteocyte-lack bone1. Fat accumulation of bone marrow is changeable and it associates with hematopoietic disorders. Fat cells express one of photoreceptors, Opsin3 and can receive light. We elucidated that light stimulation via Opsin3 contribute to activation of brown fat functions such as glucose uptake, mitochondrial respiration and thermogenesis2.

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