A research group led by Professor Hideki Katagiri, Assistant Professor Junhong Gao and Associate Professor Yasushi Ishigaki at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine has revealed that C/EBP Homologous Protein (CHOP) induction in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in a novel molecular mechanism for arteriosclerosis acceleration.

 Arteriosclerotic diseases, such as myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction, account for a third of death causes in Japan, and have been increasing as the Japanese diet is being westernized. Increased blood cholesterol, obesity, and the metabolic syndrome are well known as the leading causes of arteriosclerotic diseases. How these metabolic abnormalities cause arteriosclerosis has been investigated intensively all over the world. The research group has elucidated that CHOP, one of proteins induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress, plays a crucial role in arteriosclerosis acceleration. The research results will be published online in Circulation on August 2, 2011. The paper's title is "Involvement of Endoplasmic Stress Protein C/EBP Homologous Protein in Arteriosclerosis Acceleration with Augmented Biological Stress Responses".

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

(About the research)

Professor Hideki Katagiri

Center for Metabolic Diseases, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

TEL: +81-22-717-8228, FAX: +81-22-717-8169

E-mail: katagiri*med.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

(Public Relations)

Associate professor Fuji Nagami

Public Relations Office of Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

Tel: +81-22-717-7908, Fax: +81-22-717-8187

E-mail: f-nagami*med.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)