Kyoto University
Tokyo | Japan
BIOGRAPHY
Education:
1984 M.D. Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University
1991 Ph.D. Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University
Professional Training and Employment:
1980 Passed the Examination of National Board
1980-1981 Resident; Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kyoto University
1981-1984 Staff Neurologist; Department of Neurology, Sumitomo Hospital
1984-1987 Research fellow; National Institute of Neuroscience, NNCP, Tokyo
1987-1989 Visiting fellow; Max-Planck Society, Wurzburg, GERMANY (Recipient of Alexander von Humboldt scholarship: Host; Prof. Hartmut Wekerle)
1989-1990 Research fellow; Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA (Host; Prof. Marjorie Lees)
1990-1999 Section Chief; Department of Demyelinating Disease & Aging, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Tokyo
1995 Sabbatical leave for 6 months staying at The Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
1999-present Director; Department of Immunology, National Institute of Neuroscience, NCNP, Tokyo
2010-present Director, Multiple Sclerosis Center, NCNP
2023-present Professor, Department of Therapeutics for Multiple System Atrophy, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University
Activities in Scientific Societies:
Co-Chair; Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCiS) 2007, San Diego, USA
Congress President; Japanese Society of Neuroimmunology 2010, Tokyo
Chair; Neuroimmunology Kyoto Conference 2010, Kyoto
Program Committee Chair, 8th International Congress of Neuroimmunology
International Advisory Board Member, International Society of Neuroimmunology (ISNI)
Former Director and Honorary Member; Japanese Society of Neuroimmunology
Former Director; Japanese Society of Clinical Immunology
Elected Member; Japanese Society of Neurology
Elected Member; Japanese Society of Immunology
Appointed Congress Chair for INSI 2025 (Chiba, Japan)
Editorial Board and Review:
Former Editorial Board Member; Therapeutic advances in Neurological Disorders (Sage journals)
Former Editorial Board Member; Immunotherapy (Future Medicine)
Former Editorial Board Member (in the past); Clinical and Experimental Neuroimmunology (Wiley)
Ad Hoc Reviewer for: Nature, Nature Comm, Science Translation Med, Lancet Neurology, Brain, J. Exp. Med, Trends Immunol, BLOOD, Ann Neurol, J. Immunol., Eur. J. Immunol., Int. Immunol., and other international journals
Major Research Interest:
- Autoimmune-mediated pathogenesis of MS and NMOSD
- Translational research for development of new therapies in MS and NMOSD
- Gut microbiome and neurological disorders
- T cell-mediated neurodegeneration
- Long COVID and ME/CFS
Awards/honor:
・The Dale McFarlin Memorial Lecture: Yamamura T: Translational research towards personalized medicine for multiple sclerosis. International Society of Neuroimmunology (ISNI) 2021, Nice, France, 11.12, 2021
・6th Human Immunology Research Award. Japanese Society of Immunology. 2019
Selected 20 original papers:
■Kanazawa, T., W. Sato, B.J.E. Raveney, D. Takewaki, Y. Yokoi, R. Saika, Y. Takahashi, T. Fujita, A. Tamaoka, S. Oki, T. Yamamura: Involvement of Epmesdermin-expressing T-helper cells in neurodegenerative diseases. Ann Neurol https://doi.org/10.1002/ana. 26920, 2024
■Amano, E., W. Sato, Y. Kimura, A. Kimura, Y. Lin, T. Okamoto, N. Sato, T. Yokota, and T. Yammaura: CD11high B cell expansion is associated with severity and brain atrophy in neuromyelitis optica. Neurology: Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm 11, e200206, 2024
■Lin, Y., S. Sakuraba, C. Masikamany, J. Reddy, Y. Tanaka, S. Miyake, and T. Yamamura. Harnessing autoimmunity with dominant self-peptide: Modulating the sustainability of tissue-preferential antigen-specifi Tregs bu governing the binding stability via peptide flanking residues. J. Autoimmunity 2023 Sep 14; 140:103094. Doi: 10.1016/j.jaut. 2023.103094.
■Raveney, B.J.E., Y. El-Darawish, W. Sato, Y. Arinuma, K. Yamaoka, S. Hori, T. Yamamura, and S. Oki. Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) expression distinguishes self-reactive helper T cells in systemic autoimmune disease. EMBO Mol Med e15864, 2022 doi: 10.15252/emmm.2022158
■Kimura, K., Y. Lin, H. Yamaguchi, W. Sato, D. Takewaki, M. Minote, Y. Doi, T. Okamoto, R. Takahashi, T. Kondo, and T. Yamamura: Th1-CD11c+ B cell axis associated with response to plasmapheresis in multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol 90:595-611, 2021
■Sato, W., H. Ono, T. Matsutani, M. Nakamura, I. Shin, K. Amano, R. Suzuki, and T. Yamamura: Skewing of the B cell receptor repertoire in myaligic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Brain Behav Immun 95: 245-255, 2021
■Raveney, B.J.E., W. Sato, D. Takewaki, C. Zhang, Y. Lin, T. Okamoto, M. Araki, Y. Kimura, N. Sato, T. Sano, Y. Saito, S. Oki, and T. Yamamura. Involvement of cytotoxic Eomes-expressing CD4+ T cells in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A118 (11) e2021818118, 2021
■Takewaki, D., W. Suda, W. Sato, L. Takayasu, N. Kumar, K. Kimura, N. Kaga, T. Mizuno, S. Miyake, M. Hattori, and T. Yamamura: Alterations of the gut ecological and functional microenvironment in different stages of multiple sclerosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 117: 22402-22412, 2020
■Yamamura, T., I. Kleiter, K. Fujihara, J. Palace, B. Greenberg, B. Zakrzewska-Pniewska, F. Patti, C.-P. Tsai, A. Saiz, H. Yamazaki, Y. Kawata, P.Wright, and J. De Seze: Trial of Satralizumab in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. New Engl J Med 381: 2114-2124, 2019
■Zhang, C., B.J.E. Raveney, H. Hohjoh, C. Tomi, S. Oki, and T. Yamamura: Extrapituitary prolactin promotes generation of Eomes-positive helper T cells mediating neuroinflammation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 116: 21131-21139, 2019
■Kadowaki, A., R. Saga, Y. Lin, W. Sato, and T. Yamamura: Gut microbiota-dependent CCR9+CD4+ T cells are altered in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Brain 142: 916-931, 2019 Feb 15 doi: 10.1093/brain/awz012.
■Kimura, K., H. Hohjoh, M. Fukuoka, W. Sato, S. Oki, C. Tomi, H. Yamaguchi, T. Kondo, R. Takahashi, and T. Yamamura: Circulating esoxomes suppress the induction of regulatory T cells via let-7i in multiple sclerosis. Nature Commun 17, 2018 DOI:10.1038/S41467-017-02406-2
■Kadowaki, A., S. Miyake, R. Saga, A. Chiba, H. Mochizuki, and T. Yamamura: Gut environment-induced intraepithelial autoreactive CD4+ T cells suppress central nervous system autoimmunity via LAG-3. Nature Commun 7:11639, 2016. Doi: 10.1038/ncomms11639
■Raveney, J.E.B., S. Oki, H. Hohjoh, M. Nakamura, W. Sato, M. Murata, and T. Yamamura: Eomesodermin-expressing T-helper cells are essential for chronic neuroinflammation. Nature Commun 6:8437, 2015
■Miyake, S., S. Kim, W. Suda, K. Oshima, M. Nakamura, T. Matsuoka, N. Chihara, A. Tomita, W. Sato, S.W. Kim, H. Morita, M. Hattori, and T. Yamamura: Dysbiosis in the Gut Microbiota of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis, with a Striking Depletion of Species Belonging to Clostridia XIVa and IV Clusters. PLOS ONE 10: e0137429, 2015
■Araki, M., T. Matsuoka, K. Miyamoto, S. Kusunoki, T. Okamoto, M. Murata, S. Miyake, T. Aranami, and T. Yamamura: Efficacy of the anti-IL-6 receptor antibody tocilizumab in neuromyelitis optica: A pilot study. Neurology 82: 1302-1306, 2014
■Chihara, N., T. Aranami, W. Sato, Y. Miyazaki, S. Miyake, T. Okamoto, M. Ogawa, T. Toda, and T. Yamamura: Interleukin 6 signaling promotes anti-aquaporin 4 autoantibody production from plasmablasts in neuromyelitis optica. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108：3701-3706, 2011
■Doi, Y., S. Oki, T. Ozawa, H. Hohjoh, S. Miyake, and T. Yamamura: Orphan nuclear receptor NR4A2 expressed in T cells from multiple sclerosis mediates production of inflammatory cytokines. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105: 8381-8386, 2008
■Croxford, J.L., S. Miyake, Y-Y. Huang, M. Shimamura, and T. Yamamura: Invariant V19i T cells regulate autoimmune inflammation. Nat Immunol 7: 987-994, 2006
■Miyamoto, K., S. Miyake, and T. Yamamura: A synthetic glycolipid prevents autoimmune encephalomyelitis by inducing TH2 bias of natural killer T cells. Nature 413:531-534, 2001
Invited Review Articles and Comment
■Yamamura, T.: Comment: Time to reconsider the classification of multiple sclerosis. Lancet Neurol Vol 21, 2022. Doctopic: Analysis and Interpretation 22TLN0723_Yamamura_cmt Comment linked to 21TLN1053
■Chihara, N., and T. Yamamura: Immuno-pathogenesis of neuromyelitis optica and emerging therapies. Seminars in Immunopathology, 44:599-610, 2022 doi.org/10.1007/s00281-022-00941-9
■Chihara, N., R. Matsumoto, and T. Yamamura: Satralizumab: An interleukin receptor-blocking therapy for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. touchReviews in Neurology 17:11-5, 2021
■Yamamura, T., and D. Takewaki: A multiple sclerosis patient-oriented multiomics analysis tells us where to go next. : Commentary for : “Alterations of host-gut microbiome interactions in multiple sclerosis”. eBioMedicine 77: 103870, 2022
Invited Lectures (selected)
■Invited speaker for the major symposia of International Congress of Immunology (ICI) in 2004 (Montreal), 2007 (Rio), and 2010 (Kobe)
■Invited speaker for International NKT cell/CD1 meeting in 2002 (Woods Hole) and 2009 (Kamakura)
■Invited speaker for the plenary session of International Society of Neuroimmunology (ISNI) meeting in 2007 (Texas)
■Opening lecturer for 2nd German-Japanese Neuroimmunology symposium in 2009 (Eibsee)
■Invited speaker for Keystone Symposium of Multiple sclerosis in 2009 (New Mexico)
■Keynote lecturer for Multiple Sclerosis Immunology Symposium in 2010 (Nottingham)
■Invited speaker for NMO Round Table meeting in 2009, 2010 and 2012 (Los Angeles).
■Invited speaker for 14th International Congress of Immunology (ICI) in 2010 (Kobe)
■Keynote lecturer for Multiple Sclerosis Immunology: A foundation for Current and Future Treatments in 2010 (Nottingham, UK)
■ Invited speaker for TS Srinivasan Knowledge Conclave 2012 in 2012 (Chennai, India)
■ Invited speaker for 2012 International Conference of Inflammation, Cancer, and Metabolic Syndrome in 2012 (Taipei)
■Invited speaker for ISNI in 2008 (Fort Worth), 2014 (Mainz, Germany), 2016 (Jerusalem) and 2018 (Brisbane)
■ Invited lecturer for PACTRIMS in 2013 (Kyoto), 2015 (Seoul) and 2021 (Virtual)
■Invited speaker for 7th Joint ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Meeting (MSParis 2017) in 2017 (Paris)
■The Dale McFarlin Lecture for ISNI 2021 (Virtual)
■Invited speaker for ASENT 2022 in 2022 (Virtual)
■Invited speaker for ImmunOctoberfest 2022 in 2022 (Burghausen, Germany)
■Invited speaker for IHMC 2022 in 2022 (Kobe)