Role of growth factors and morphogens in cell differentiation

项目活动：1999年1月4日至10日，库珀访问了德岛大学。他主要与Itakura教授就胰淀素在糖尿病和精神分裂症发病机制中的作用的合作研究工作进行了近距离的会晤。他还给医学生和研究生做了一次演讲。Arase、Itakura和Kosaka于3月16日至20日访问了加克兰大学。为研究生授课，然后与所有成员举行了这一研究项目的闭幕会。最后，我们决定不仅交换研究信息，而且还在相应部门之间交流学生和研究生。研究摘要：ARASE已经发现了8个人类毛乳头特异基因，现在正在通过培育基因敲除动物来研究它们的功能。Itakura开发了与β细胞相关的基因转基因和基因敲除动物，以精确地阐明这些基因产物的功能。Kawano和Kosaka开发了从人类白细胞抗原不相合的Donner中移植外周血干细胞的疗法。他们用他们的方法治疗了儿童和成人的血液系统恶性肿瘤患者。Merriless研究了动脉粥样硬化的形成与蛋白多糖的关系，并发现转化生长因子-β可促进内皮细胞产生蛋白多糖。格林发现缝隙连接在伤口愈合中起着重要作用。库珀发现Arnylin与糖尿病、精神分裂症有密切关系。Crosiers发现了已知的发育酪氨酸激酶基因，并修复了它们的全长DNA序列。法国和小阪研究了早产与母亲血清CRH、激活素-A和卵泡抑素水平的关系，但没有发现相关性。

Project activity : In 1999, Cooper visited The University of Tokushima from Jan.4 to 10. He had a close meeting mainly with Prof Itakura on collaborative research works about the roles of amylin on the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and schizophrenia. He also gave a lecture to medical students and postgraduate students. Arase, Itakura and Kosaka visited The University of Gackland from March 16 to 20. gave seminors to postgraduate students, then had closing meetings of this research project with all members. Finally, we decided to exchange not only research informations but also students and postgraduate students between the corresponding departments.Researctr summary : Arase has found 8 human dermal papilla specific genes and now studing functions of them by developing knock-out animals. Itakura developed both beta cells related genes' transgenic and knockout animal's to precisely elucidate functions of those gene products. Kawano and Kosaka developed peripheral blood stem cells transplantation therapy from HLA mismatched donners. They treaLed both pediatric and adult patients with haeniatological malignancies using their methods. Merriless studied the relationship between the formation of atherosclerosis and proteoglycans and found TGF-beta enhances the proteoglycans production by endothelial cells. Green found an important role of gap junction in wound healing. Cooper found a close relation between arnylin and diabctes mellitus, schizophrenia. Crosiers found knew developiriental tyrosine kinase genes and fixed their full length DNA sequence. France and Kosaka studied the relationship between premature birthand maternal serum levels of CRH, activin-A and follistatin but found no association.