Professor: Mitsuhisa Komatsu
Associate Professor: Satoru Suzuki
Assistant Professor: Masanori Yamazaki

Summary of Activity
Principal of our department is to establish newer insights into "Aging and Adaptation" in developing human diseases. In particular, we focus on the researches to elucidate mechanisms by which “Aging and Adaptation” affects endocrine and metabolic disorders. Translation of the basic research findings to clinical application is obviously important tasks for our laboratory. The department has been also contributed to the Shinshu University Hospital as the division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism; we aim to perform clinical practice and education of the medical students, young doctors and many other medical specialists.

Research Projects
1) To clarify the mechanism of insulin secretion from pancreatic ß-cell, we have been performed series of experiments for over 20 years. We found that glucose stimulates insulin release from the pancreatic ß-cell via novel pathway that is now collectively referred to as “KATP chanel-independent pathway. Our current goal of this field is to identify the molecular basis of this pathway and to apply for developing new therapeutic targets for diabetes mellitus.
2) To establish the role of cytosolic binding protein for thyroid hormone (CRYM) and elucidation of possible anti-aging effects of this protein is one of our exciting projects.
3) We interested in a role of estrogen for modulation of autoimmune diseases. In particular, we investigate whether estrogen action is mediated by regulatory T-cells.
4) In order to prevent development of diabetes mellitus, we will examine the effects of exercise and dietary intervention, which we originally developed, on diabetic prone population in collaboration with the department of sports and medical sciences. In addition, we will apply these regimens for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
5) Clinical trials involving multi-center in Nagano prefecture are on going to evaluate several possible medical intervention for diabetes mellitus.
6) Researches on genetic endocrine disorders such as multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) are currently undertaken.
7) By using a bedside artificial pancreas, we examine phathophysiology of diabetes mellitus. We also use the artificial pancreas to control plasma glucose concentration within normal ranges under various conditions in human.