Education

Graduated from Koyo High School (Nagoya-city, Japan)
Bachelor of Agriculture from Kyushu University (Fukuoka-city, Japan)
Master D. of Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences from Kyushu University (Fukuoka-city, Japan)
Doctor of Medical Science from The University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)

Professional Training and Employment

Research scientist, Department of Pathology, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Human Service Center (Kasugai-city, Japan)
Visiting Fellow, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD, USA)
Assistant professor, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama medical university (Iruma-gun, Japan)

Specialty:Neuropharmacology, Lipid Biology, Neuropathology, Bioactive Natural Products
Key Word:Neuroinflammation, Lipid mediator, Multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Excitotoxicity

Publication List

1 Iwasa K, Yagishita S, Yagishita-Kyo N, Yamagishi A, Yamamoto S, Yamashina K, Haruta C, Asai M, Maruyama K, Shimizu K, *Yoshikawa K
Long term administration of loquat leaves and their major component, ursolic acid, attenuated endogenous amyloid-β burden and memory impairment
Scientific Reports. 13:16770 (2023)

2 Yamamoto S, Iwasa K, Yamagishi A, Haruta C, Maruyama K, *Yoshikawa K
Microglial depletion exacerbates axonal damage and motor dysfunction in mice with cuprizone-induced demyelination.
Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. 153. 94-103 (2023)

3 Igarashi M, Iwasa K, Hayakawa T, Tsuduki T, Kimura I, Maruyama K, Yoshikawa K.
Dietary oleic acid contributes to the regulation of food intake through the synthesis of intestinal oleoylethanolamide.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 17;13:1056116. (2023)

4 Iwasa K, Yamagishi A, Yamamoto S, Haruta C, Maruyama K, *Yoshikawa K
GPR137 inhibits cell proliferation and promotes neuronal differentiation in the Neuro2A cells
Neurochemical Research published online 27 November (2022)

5 Yamagishi A, Iwasa K, Yamamoto S, Haruta C, Maruyama K, *Yoshikawa K
Effects of Prostamide/Prostaglandin F Synthase on Melanogenesis and Tumor Metastatic Potential of B16 Melanoma Cells
Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results 13 (3): 79-84 (2022)

6 Yamashina K, Yamamoto S, Matsumoto M, Iwasa K, Takeda N, Haruta C, Maruyama K, Shimizu K, *Yoshikawa K
Suppressive effect of fruiting bodies of medicinal mushrooms on demyelination and motor dysfunction in a cuprizone-induced multiple sclerosis mouse model
International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms 24(9):15-24 (2022)

7 Iwasa K, Yamamoto S, Yamashina K, Yagishita-kyo N, Maruyama K, Awaji T, Takei Y, Hirasawa A, *Yoshikawa K
A peripheral lipid sensor GPR120 remotely contributes to suppression of PGD2-microglia-provoked neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in the mouse hippocampus
Journal of Neuroinflammation 18:304 (2021).

8 Fukasawa K, Gotoh M, Uwamizu A, Hirokawa T, Ishikawa M, Shimizu Y, Yamamoto S, Iwasa K, Yoshikawa K, Aoki J, Gotoh M, Murakami-Murofushi K
2-Carba-lysophosphatidic acid is a novel β-lysophosphatidic acid analogue with high potential for lysophosphatidic acid receptor activation and autotaxin inhibition
Scientific Reports 11:17360 (2021)

9 Yagishita-Kyo N, Ikai Y, Uekita T, Shinohara A, Koshimoto C, Yoshikawa K, Maruyama K, Yagishita S.
Testosterone interrupts binding of Neurexin and Neuroligin that are expressed in a highly socialized rodent, Octodon degus.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 551:54-62 (2021)

10 Igarashi M, Iwasa K, Yoshikawa K.
Feeding regulation by oleoylthanolamide synthesized from dietary oleic acid
Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids 165:102228 (2021)

11 Yamamoto S, Sakemoto C, Iwasa K, Maruyama K, Shimizu K, *Yoshikawa K
Ursolic acid treatment suppresses cuprizone-induced demyelination and motor dysfunction via upregulation of IGF-1
Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. 144:119-122 (2020)

12 Shimizu Y, Fukasawa K, Yamamoto S, Shibaike Y, Tsukahara R, Ishikawa M, Iwasa K, Yoshikawa K, Gotoh M, Murakami-Murofushi K.
Evaluation of the pharmacokinetics of 2-carba-cyclic phosphatidic acid by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry
Prostaglandin and Other Lipid Mediators. 150:106450 (2020)

13 Shibaike Y, Gotoh M, Ogawa C, Nagajima S, Yoshikawa K, Kobayashi T, Murakami-
Murofushi K.
2-Carba cyclic phosphatidic acid inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced prostaglandin E2 production in a human macrophage cell line
Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports. 19:100668 (2019)

14 Shimizu Y, Ishikawa M, Gotoh M, Fukasawa K, Yamamoto S, Iwasa K, Yoshikawa K,
Murakami-Murofushi K.
Quantitative determination of cyclic phosphatidic acid and its carba analog in mouse organs and plasma using LC–MS/MS.
Journal of Chromatography B. 1076:15-21 (2018)

15 Tsukahara R, Yamamoto S, Yoshikawa K, Gotoh M, Tsukahara T, Neyama H, Ishii S, Akahoshi N, Yanagida K, Sumida H, Araki M, Araki K, Yamamura K, Murakami- Murofushi K, Ueda H.
LPA5 Signaling is involved in Multiple Sclerosis-mediated Neuropathic Pain in the Cuprizone Mouse Model.
Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. 136(2) :93-96 (2018)

16 Hashimoto M, Yamamoto S, Iwasa K, Yamashina K, Ishikawa M, Maruyama K, Bosetti F, *Yoshikawa K
The flavonoid Baicalein attenuates cuprizone-induced demyelination via suppression of neuroinflammation.
Brain Research Bulletin. 135:47-52 (2017)

17 Yamamoto S, Yamashina K, Ishikawa M, Gotoh M, Yagishita S, Iwasa K, Maruyama K, Murakami-Murofushi K, *Yoshikawa K
Protective and therapeutic role of 2-carba-cyclic phosphatidic acid in demyelinating disease.
Journal of Neuroinflammation. 14:142 (2017).

18 Iwasa K, Yamamoto S, Yagishita S, Maruyama K, *Yoshikawa K
Excitotoxicity-induced prostaglandin D 2 production induces sustained microglial activation and delayed neuronal death.
Journal of Lipid Research. 58:649-655 (2017)

19 Yagishita S, Suzuki S, Yoshikawa K, Iida K, Hirata A, Suzuki M, Takashima A, Maruyama K, Hirasawa A, Awaji T.
Treatment of intermittent hypoxia increases phosphorylated tau in the hippocampus via biological processes common to aging.
Molecular Brain 10: 2 (2017)

20 Iwasa K, Yamamoto S, Takahashi M, Suzuki S, Yagishita S, Awaji T, Maruyama K,
*Yoshikawa K
Prostaglandin F 2α FP receptor inhibitor reduces demyelination and motor dysfunction in a cuprizone-induced multiple sclerosis mouse model.
Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids. 91:175-182 (2014)

21 Yamamoto S, Gotoh M, Kawamura Y, Yamashina K, Yagishita S, Awaji T, Tanaka M,
Maruyama K, Murakami-Murofushi K, *Yoshikawa K
Cyclic phosphatidic acid treatment suppresses cuprizone-induced demyelination and motor dysfunction in mice.
European Journal of Pharmacology 741:17-24 (2014)

22 Yoshikawa K , Kita Y , Furukawa A, Kawamura N, Hasegawa-Ishii S, Chiba Y, Takei S, Maruyama K, Shimizu T, Shimada A.　
Excitotoxicity-induced immediate surge in hippocampal prostanoid production has latent effects that promote chronic progressive neuronal death
Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids 88:373-381(2013)

23 Yoshikawa K, Palumbo S, Toscano CD, Bosetti F.　
Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase activity in mice during cuprizone-induced demyelination attenuates neuroinflammation, motor dysfunction and axonal damage.
Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids 85(1):43-52 (2011)

24 Yoshikawa K, Takei S, Hasegawa-Ishii S, Chiba Y, Furukawa A, Kawamura N, Hosokawa M, Woodward DF, Watanabe K, Shimada A.
Preferential localization of prostamide/prostaglandin F synthase in myelin sheaths of the central nervous system.
Brain Research 1367: 22-32 (2011)

25 Furukawa A, Kawamoto Y, Chiba Y, Yoshikawa K, Hosokawa M, Kato M, Shimada A.
Proteomic identification of hippocampal proteins vulnerable to oxidative stress in excitotoxininduced acute neuronal injury
Neurobiology of Disease 43:706-714 (2011)

26 Enos T. Arung, Yoshikawa K, Shimizu K., Kondo R.
Isoprenoid-substituted flavonoids from wood of Artocarpus heterophyllus on B16 melanoma cells: Cytotoxicity and structural criteria.
Fitoterapia 81(2):120-123. (2010)

27 Furukawa A, Oikawa S, Hasegawa-Ishii S, Chiba Y, Yoshikawa K, Hosokawa M,
Kawanishi S, Shimada A.
Proteomic analysis of aging brain in SAMP10 mouse: a model of agerelated cerebral degeneration.
Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 131(6):379-88 (2010)

28 Hasegawa-Ishii S, Takei S, Chiba Y, Furukawa A, Umegaki H, Iguchi A, Kawamura N, Yoshikawa K, Hosokawa M, Shimada A.
Morphological impairments in microglia precede age-related neuronal degeneration in senescence-accelerated mice.
Neuropathology 31(1):20-8. (2010)

29 Chiba Y, Shimada A, Kumagai N, Yoshikawa K, Ishii S, Furukawa A, Takei S, Sakura M, Kawamura N, and Hosokawa M.
The senescenceaccelerated mouse (SAM): a higher oxidative stress and agedependent degenerative diseases model.
Neurochemical Research 34:679-687 (2009)

30 Satoh, M, Shimada A, Kawamura N, Chiba Y, Yoshikawa K, Ishii S, Furukawa A, Kumagai N, and Hosokawa M.
Neuronal toxicity of expanded polyglutamine depends on intracellular distribution in addition to the expression level.
Neuropathology 28:485-796 (2008)

31 Saitoh Y. Matsui F. Chiba Y. Kawamura N. Keino H. Satoh M. Kumagai N. Ishii S. Yoshikawa K. Shimada A. Maeda N. Oohira A. Hosokawa M.
Reduced Expression of MAb6B4-Epitopes on Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan Aggrecan in Perineuronal Nets from the Cerebral Cortices of SAMP10 Mice, a Model for Age-Dependent Neurodegeneration.
Journal of Neuroscience Research 86:1316-1323 (2008)

32 Kumagai N, Chiba Y, Hosono M, Fujii M, Kawamura N, Keino H, Yoshikawa K, Ishii S, Saitoh Y, Satoh M, Shimada A, Hosokawa M.
Involvement of proinflammatory cytokines and microglia in an age-associated neurodegeneration model, the SAMP10 mouse.
Brain Research 1185:75-85 (2007)

33 Shimizu K, Fukunaga S, Yoshikawa K, Kondo R.
Screening of extracts of Japanese woods for melanin biosynthesis inhibition.
Journal of Wood Science 53:153-160 (2006)

34 Yoshikawa K, Kita, Y, Kishimoto K, Shimizu T.
Profiling of eicosanoid production in the rat hippocampus during kainic acid-induced seizure: Dual-phase regulation and differential involvement of COX-1 and COX-2.
Journal of Biological Chemistry 281:14663-14669 (2006)

35 Enos T. Arung, Yoshikawa K, Shimizu K, Kondo R.
The effect of chlorophorin and its derivative on melanin biosynthesis.
Holzforschung 59:514-518(2005)