Kana Furukawa

Assistant Professor, R3 Institute for Newly-Emerging Science Design, Osaka University*Profile is at the time of the award.

2025Inamori Research GrantsBiology & Life sciences

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Research topics: Unraveling the Mechanism Behind the Evolutionarily Conserved Bellows-like Structure Formation in Tracheal Tissue

Keyword

Summary: The trachea is the only airway that delivers air to the lungs in animals, making its lumen structure essential for survival. The trachea features a bellows-like structure, in which tracheal cartilages are evenly spaced. This structure ensures that the airway lumen remains stable in any body position. However, the mechanism behind the formation of this bellows-like structure remains unknown. In my previous research, I discovered a potential mechanism for bellows-like structure formation that is conserved across mammals, aves, and reptiles. In this study, I aim to clarify the evolutionarily conserved mechanism of tracheal tissue bellows-like structure formation by combining mechanical analysis and molecular biological approaches.

Comment

The structure of tracheal tissue is truly well-designed and even beautiful. Tracheal cartilage is an evolutionarily conserved tissue found in animals from reptiles onward, and interestingly there are individual differences in the shape of tracheal cartilage in mammals. Many respiratory researchers focus on the lungs, which are a precursor to cancer. As a result, the trachea has been delayed, with many aspects of the tracheal tissue formation mechanism still unclear. Based on this situation, I aim to clarify the mechanism of tracheal tissue formation, especially how tracheal cartilage is formed. By elucidating the mechanism of tracheal cartilage formation in this study, I hope that it will lead to the development of novel treatments in the future for patients with congenital diseases such as tracheal cartilage formation defects.

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