Our laboratory focuses on the relationship between dietary habits and immune responses.
In modern dietary environments, a high-fat diet (HFD) is known to contribute to the development of chronic inflammation and lifestyle-related diseases.
To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we investigate how an HFD influences intestinal immune functions at the tissue and cellular levels.
Main themes: Morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of the effects of a high-fat diet on intestinal immunity
Keywords: high-fat diet, obesity, diabetes, intestinal immunity, B cells, plasma cells, in vivo cryo technic, immunohistochemistry, organ crosstalk
We primarily analyze morphological alterations in intestinal tissues and changes in the distribution and localization of lymphocytes, particularly B cells.
Using the in vivo cryo technic (a rapid freezing fixation method), tissues are fixed immediately after excision to preserve in vivo cellular configurations. This enables us to observe the spatial organization of immune cells in a state closely resembling physiological conditions, providing insights that conventional chemical fixation methods could not capture.
Immunohistochemical analysis is employed to visualize the localization of immune cell markers, including B cells, plasma cells, and macrophages, within intestinal mucosa and associated lymphoid tissues. Through this approach, we aim to clarify how dietary factors modulate local immune environments in the gut.
Our particular interest lies in how the intestine, as a local immune site, interacts with upstream regulatory signals—such as neural, metabolic, and splenic pathways—and contributes to systemic immune homeostasis. By exploring these inter-organ communications (organ crosstalk), we seek to elucidate the interface between diet and immunity at both molecular and morphological levels.
Representative work
Yuta Sakamoto, Masatoshi Niwa, Ken Muramatsu, Satoshi Shimo. Effect of high-fat diet on IgA+ cells and BAFF/APRIL in small intestinal villous lamina propria of mice. Cellular Immunology. 2025, 409–410,104911. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cellimm.2024.104911
Sakamoto Y, Niwa M, Muramatsu K, Shimo S. High-Fat Diet and Age-Dependent Effects of IgA-Bearing Cell Populations in the Small Intestinal Lamina Propria in Mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021; 22(3):1165. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22031165
This research represents a fundamental effort to understand the relationship between dietary intake and immune function from a physiological and morphological perspective. By clarifying how everyday dietary habits influence the body’s defense system, we aim to contribute to the prevention of lifestyle-related and chronic inflammatory diseases through basic scientific insights.