Publications by authors named "Takeru Oka"

Article Synopsis
  • Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are crucial in cancer growth and resistance, and recent research has identified GPLD1 as a marker for slowly cycling CSCs using a mouse intestinal cancer model.
  • Inhibiting GPLD1, particularly combined with the chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil, significantly reduces cancer cell viability and prevents tumor regrowth in organoids.
  • The study also reveals the role of GPLD1 in activating Wnt signaling and promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through the cleavage of serine protease 8 (PRSS8), indicating that targeting GPLD1 could be a promising new treatment approach for colorectal cancer.
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This study aimed to evaluate the association between family structure and healthy life expectancy among older Japanese adults, hypothesizing that social participation increases healthy life expectancy more in older men without a spouse than in older women. This study collected data on Healthy Life Expectancy from 541 older adults between 2003 and 2021 from the Healthy Life Expectancy Study, a cohort study of older adults in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The Japanese long-term care insurance system serves as an indicator of a healthy life expectancy.

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Unlabelled: Quiescent cancer stem cells (CSC) are resistant to conventional anticancer treatments and have been shown to contribute to disease relapse after therapy in some cancer types. The identification and characterization of quiescent CSCs could facilitate the development of strategies to target this cell population and block recurrence. Here, we established a syngeneic orthotopic transplantation model in mice based on intestinal cancer organoids to profile quiescent CSCs.

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Although the mammalian intestinal epithelium manifests robust regenerative capacity after various cytotoxic injuries, the underlying mechanism has remained unclear. Here we identify the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p57 as a specific marker for a quiescent cell population located around the +4 position of intestinal crypts. Lineage tracing reveals that the p57 cells serve as enteroendocrine/tuft cell precursors under normal conditions but dedifferentiate and act as facultative stem cells to support regeneration after injury.

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Pain affects psychological stress and general health in the working population. However, the factors affecting psychological job stress related to chronic pain are unclear. This study aimed to clarify the structural differences among factors affecting psychological job stress in workers with chronic pain and those without pain.

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Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) kinase is a master regulator of the cellular response to nutrition-related signals such as insulin and amino acids. mTORC1 is activated on the lysosomal membrane and induces phosphorylation of a variety of downstream molecules. We previously showed that activated mTORC1 induces protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)-mediated dephosphorylation of the transcription factor forkhead box K1 (FOXK1).

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The gene encoding the chromatin remodeler CHD8 is the most frequently mutated gene in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Heterozygous mutations in CHD8 give rise to ASD that is often accompanied by macrocephaly, gastrointestinal complaints, and slender habitus. Whereas most phenotypes of CHD8 haploinsufficiency likely result from delayed neurodevelopment, the mechanism underlying slender habitus has remained unknown.

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