The human body has a unique, vital system known as the "immune system" which keeps us healthy against invasions by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites in addition to cancer cells. The immune system is composed of leukocytes that can distinguish invaders from normal, host cells at molecular levels. Once leukocytes find invaders, they try to eliminate them by engulfing or attacking them directly, or through the production of missile-like molecules called antibodies. The immune system is proficiently controlled by regulatory mechanisms, although malfunctions in their regulation can lead to inflammatory diseases such as allergies, autoimmune diseases, and also cancer development. In this laboratory, we research immune regulation in order to uncover still-unknown mechanisms of immunoregulation. We believe further understanding of the immune system will contribute to the development of new strategies for disease prevention and therapeutic measures for disease therapy.

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