This research profile is on Dr Noboru Uchide, who is the author of Current status of monocyte differentiation-inducing (MDI) factors derived from human fetal membrane chorion cells undergoing apoptosis after influenza virus infection, which was recently published in Gene Regulation and Systems Biology.

Since it was published this paper has been viewed 8281 times.

The Editor in Chief of James Willey recently issued a call for papers.

Primary research focus:

Virulence of influenza virus against human fetal membranes: macrophage activation by cytokines secreted from influenza virus-infected chorion cells undergoing apoptosis.

What are the most exciting developments arising from current research in your area?: Primary cultured chorion cells secrete monocyte differentiation-inducing (MDI) factor during the process of apoptotic cell death induced by influenza virus infection. Pro-inflamamtory cytokines, such as Interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-β, are identified as a member of the MDI factor. The mature macrophages induced by the MDI factor possess capabilities of producing toxic molecule (i.e. superoxide) and phagocytosing apoptotic chorion cell debris resulting from the virus infection.

Subsequent to phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by macrophages, an abrupt increase in superoxide production by macrophages, known as the oxidative burst, occurs, which is catalyzed by NADPH oxidase enzyme complex. The production of superoxide by phagocytes is necessary for remodeling tissues damaged by infectious agents. However, an excessive production of superoxide by NADPH oxidase in macrophages is known to implicate in the lethal or toxic effect of influenza virus infection. Consequently, our studies suggest that the MDI factor derived from influenza virus-infected chorion cells undergoing apoptosis play a possible pathological role through these pathways in pregnant women during intrauterine infection.

Research collaborators

• Hiroo Toyoda, Ph.D.

• Kunio Ohyama, Ph.D.

• Bo Yuan, Ph.D.

• Toshio Yamakawa, Ph.D.

Notable recent papers:

• Noboru Uchide, Kunio Ohyama, Toshio Bessho & Hiroo Toyoda. Effects of mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors on tumor necrosis factor-α gene expression and apoptosis induction in cultured human fetal membrane chorion cells infected with influenza virus. Intervirology, 50, 99-107 (2007). [Journal]

• Noboru Uchide & Hiroo Toyoda. Molecular pathogenesis of influenza virus infection: Apoptosis induction and macrophage activation. Alex R. Demasi (Editor). In: Cellular Signaling and Apoptosis Research. New York: Nova Science Publishers Inc. pp. 91-128 (2007). [Amazon]

• Noboru Uchide & Hiroo Toyoda. A new simple multi-well plate-based assay for monocyte differentiation using human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells. Journal of Immunological Methods, 328, 215-219 (2007). [Journal]

• Noboru Uchide & Hiroo Toyoda. Current status of monocyte differentiation-inducing (MDI) factors derived from human fetal membrane chorion cells undergoing apoptosis after influenza virus infection. Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, 1, 295-302 (2007). [Journal]

• Takeshi Haga, Noboru Uchide, Sharof Tugizov & Joel M. Palefsky. Role of E-cadherin in the induction of apoptosis of HPV16-positive CaSki cervical cancer cells during multicellular tumor spheroid formation. Apoptosis, 13, 97-108 (2008). [Journal]

• Noboru Uchide & Hiroo Toyoda. Potential of selected antioxidants for influenza chemotherapy. Anti-infective Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 7,73-83 (2008). [Ingenta]

• Noboru Uchide & Hiroo Toyoda. Future target molecules for influenza treatment. Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, 8, 491-495 (2008). [Pubmed]

• Bo Yuan, Kunio Ohyama, Toshio Bessho, Noboru Uchide & Hiroo Toyoda. Imbalance between ROS production and elimination results in apoptosis induction in primary smooth chorion trophoblast cells prepared from human fetal membrane tissues. Life Sciences, 82, 623-630 (2008). [Pubmed]

• Noboru Uchide & Hiroo Toyoda. Significance of monocyte differentiation-inducing (MDI) factor in phagocytosis of apoptotic cells induced by influenza virus infection. Current Topics in Virology, 7, 33-46 (2008). [Journal]

• Noboru Uchide, Kunio Ohyama, Toshio Bessho & Hiroo Toyoda. Lactate dehydrogenase leakage as a marker for apoptotic cell degradation induced by influenza virus infection in human fetal membrane cells. Intervirology, 52, 164-173 (2009). [Journal]

• Noboru Uchide & Hiroo Toyoda. Virulence of influenza virus on human fetal membrane tissues. In: Infectious Pregnancy Complications. New York: Nova Science Publishers Inc. in press (2009). [Amazon]

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