Masanori Sasaki, MD, PhD
Professor Adjunct of Neurology
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Extensive Research Description
My research
interest is in the area of cellular transplantation to repair spinal cord
injury. My work has primarily utilized neural cells derived from adult tissues
and processed for transplantation into injured spinal cord. I developed cells
from the olfactory system called olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) that
display unique properties that assist normal axon growth of olfactory sensory
neurons into the brain. I have also engineered adult stem cells derived from
bone marrow to hypersecrete a neurotrophic factor and has found that these
cells are neuroprotective. Collectively, my research has important clinical
implications and could lead to a clinical study in spinal cord injury patients.
Coauthors
Selected Publications
- Transplantation of an acutely isolated bone marrow fraction repairs demyelinated adult rat spinal cord axons.Sasaki M, Honmou O, Akiyama Y, Uede T, Hashi K, Kocsis JD. Transplantation of an acutely isolated bone marrow fraction repairs demyelinated adult rat spinal cord axons. Glia 2001, 35:26-34.
- Identified olfactory ensheathing cells transplanted into the transected dorsal funiculus bridge the lesion and form myelin.Sasaki M, Lankford KL, Zemedkun M, Kocsis JD. Identified olfactory ensheathing cells transplanted into the transected dorsal funiculus bridge the lesion and form myelin. The Journal Of Neuroscience : The Official Journal Of The Society For Neuroscience 2004, 24:8485-93.
- Autologous transplantation of expanded neural precursor cells into the demyelinated monkey spinal cord.Oka S, Honmou O, Akiyama Y, Sasaki M, Houkin K, Hashi K, Kocsis JD. Autologous transplantation of expanded neural precursor cells into the demyelinated monkey spinal cord. Brain Research 2004, 1030:94-102.
- Protection of corticospinal tract neurons after dorsal spinal cord transection and engraftment of olfactory ensheathing cells.Sasaki M, Hains BC, Lankford KL, Waxman SG, Kocsis JD. Protection of corticospinal tract neurons after dorsal spinal cord transection and engraftment of olfactory ensheathing cells. Glia 2006, 53:352-9.
- Myelination and nodal formation of regenerated peripheral nerve fibers following transplantation of acutely prepared olfactory ensheathing cells.Dombrowski MA, Sasaki M, Lankford KL, Kocsis JD, Radtke C. Myelination and nodal formation of regenerated peripheral nerve fibers following transplantation of acutely prepared olfactory ensheathing cells. Brain Research 2006, 1125:1-8.
- Molecular reconstruction of nodes of Ranvier after remyelination by transplanted olfactory ensheathing cells in the demyelinated spinal cord.Sasaki M, Black JA, Lankford KL, Tokuno HA, Waxman SG, Kocsis JD. Molecular reconstruction of nodes of Ranvier after remyelination by transplanted olfactory ensheathing cells in the demyelinated spinal cord. The Journal Of Neuroscience : The Official Journal Of The Society For Neuroscience 2006, 26:1803-12.
- Remyelination of the injured spinal cord.Sasaki M, Li B, Lankford KL, Radtke C, Kocsis JD. Remyelination of the injured spinal cord. Progress In Brain Research 2007, 161:419-33.
- Demyelinating diseases and potential repair strategies.Radtke C, Spies M, Sasaki M, Vogt PM, Kocsis JD. Demyelinating diseases and potential repair strategies. International Journal Of Developmental Neuroscience : The Official Journal Of The International Society For Developmental Neuroscience 2007, 25:149-53.
- Olfactory ensheathing cells exhibit unique migratory, phagocytic, and myelinating properties in the X-irradiated spinal cord not shared by Schwann cells.Lankford KL, Sasaki M, Radtke C, Kocsis JD. Olfactory ensheathing cells exhibit unique migratory, phagocytic, and myelinating properties in the X-irradiated spinal cord not shared by Schwann cells. Glia 2008, 56:1664-78.
- Potential of olfactory ensheathing cells for cell-based therapy in spinal cord injury.Radtke C, Sasaki M, Lankford KL, Vogt PM, Kocsis JD. Potential of olfactory ensheathing cells for cell-based therapy in spinal cord injury. Journal Of Rehabilitation Research And Development 2008, 45:141-51.
- BDNF-hypersecreting human mesenchymal stem cells promote functional recovery, axonal sprouting, and protection of corticospinal neurons after spinal cord injury.Sasaki M, Radtke C, Tan AM, Zhao P, Hamada H, Houkin K, Honmou O, Kocsis JD. BDNF-hypersecreting human mesenchymal stem cells promote functional recovery, axonal sprouting, and protection of corticospinal neurons after spinal cord injury. The Journal Of Neuroscience : The Official Journal Of The Society For Neuroscience 2009, 29:14932-41.
- Unique in vivo properties of olfactory ensheathing cells that may contribute to neural repair and protection following spinal cord injury.Kocsis JD, Lankford KL, Sasaki M, Radtke C. Unique in vivo properties of olfactory ensheathing cells that may contribute to neural repair and protection following spinal cord injury. Neuroscience Letters 2009, 456:137-42.
- Convergence of cells from the progenitor fraction of adult olfactory bulb tissue to remyelinating glia in demyelinating spinal cord lesions.Markakis EA, Sasaki M, Lankford KL, Kocsis JD. Convergence of cells from the progenitor fraction of adult olfactory bulb tissue to remyelinating glia in demyelinating spinal cord lesions. PloS One 2009, 4:e7260.
- A rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model and intravenous cellular delivery.Sasaki M, Honmou O, Kocsis JD. A rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model and intravenous cellular delivery. Methods In Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.) 2009, 549:187-95.
- Focal experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat induced by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and intraspinal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor.Sasaki M, Lankford KL, Brown RJ, Ruddle NH, Kocsis JD. Focal experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat induced by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and intraspinal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor. Glia 2010, 58:1523-31.
- Remyelination after olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation into diverse demyelinating environments.Sasaki M, Lankford KL, Radtke C, Honmou O, Kocsis JD. Remyelination after olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation into diverse demyelinating environments. Experimental Neurology 2011, 229:88-98.
- CNPase expression in olfactory ensheathing cells.Radtke C, Sasaki M, Lankford KL, Gallo V, Kocsis JD. CNPase expression in olfactory ensheathing cells. Journal Of Biomedicine & Biotechnology 2011, 2011:608496.
- Development of a middle cerebral artery occlusion model in the nonhuman primate and a safety study of i.v. infusion of human mesenchymal stem cells.Sasaki M, Honmou O, Radtke C, Kocsis JD. Development of a middle cerebral artery occlusion model in the nonhuman primate and a safety study of i.v. infusion of human mesenchymal stem cells. PloS One 2011, 6:e26577.
- Mesenchymal stem cells: therapeutic outlook for stroke.Honmou O, Onodera R, Sasaki M, Waxman SG, Kocsis JD. Mesenchymal stem cells: therapeutic outlook for stroke. Trends In Molecular Medicine 2012, 18:292-7.
- Bilateral cortical hyperactivity detected by fMRI associates with improved motor function following intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells in a rat stroke model.Suzuki J, Sasaki M, Harada K, Bando M, Kataoka Y, Onodera R, Mikami T, Wanibuchi M, Mikuni N, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Bilateral cortical hyperactivity detected by fMRI associates with improved motor function following intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells in a rat stroke model. Brain Research 2013, 1497:15-22.
- Olfactory ensheathing cells, but not Schwann cells, proliferate and migrate extensively within moderately X-irradiated juvenile rat brain.Lankford KL, Brown RJ, Sasaki M, Kocsis JD. Olfactory ensheathing cells, but not Schwann cells, proliferate and migrate extensively within moderately X-irradiated juvenile rat brain. Glia 2014, 62:52-63.
- Intravenous Preload of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Rescues Erectile Function in a Rat Model of Cavernous Nerve Injury.Takayanagi A, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Kobayashi K, Matsuda Y, Oka S, Masumori N, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Intravenous Preload of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Rescues Erectile Function in a Rat Model of Cavernous Nerve Injury. The Journal Of Sexual Medicine 2015, 12:1713-21.
- Diffuse and persistent blood-spinal cord barrier disruption after contusive spinal cord injury rapidly recovers following intravenous infusion of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.Matsushita T, Lankford KL, Arroyo EJ, Sasaki M, Neyazi M, Radtke C, Kocsis JD. Diffuse and persistent blood-spinal cord barrier disruption after contusive spinal cord injury rapidly recovers following intravenous infusion of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Experimental Neurology 2015, 267:152-64.
- Intravenous mesenchymal stem cell administration exhibits therapeutic effects against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration and glial activation in rats.Suzuki S, Kawamata J, Iwahara N, Matsumura A, Hisahara S, Matsushita T, Sasaki M, Honmou O, Shimohama S. Intravenous mesenchymal stem cell administration exhibits therapeutic effects against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration and glial activation in rats. Neuroscience Letters 2015, 584:276-81.
- Double balloon protection during carotid artery stenting for vulnerable carotid stenosis reduces the incidence of new brain lesions.Nakazaki M, Nonaka T, Takahashi A, Yonemasu Y, Nomura T, Onda T, Honda O, Hashimoto Y, Ohnishi H, Sasaki M, Daibo M, Honmou O. Double balloon protection during carotid artery stenting for vulnerable carotid stenosis reduces the incidence of new brain lesions. Acta Neurochirurgica 2016, 158:1377-86.
- Intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells promotes functional recovery in a model of chronic spinal cord injury.Morita T, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Nakazaki M, Nagahama H, Oka S, Oshigiri T, Takebayashi T, Yamashita T, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells promotes functional recovery in a model of chronic spinal cord injury. Neuroscience 2016, 335:221-31.
- Synergic Effects of Rehabilitation and Intravenous Infusion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells After Stroke in Rats.Sasaki Y, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Nakazaki M, Nagahama H, Suzuki J, Tateyama D, Oka S, Namioka T, Namioka A, Onodera R, Mikami T, Wanibuchi M, Kakizawa M, Ishiai S, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Synergic Effects of Rehabilitation and Intravenous Infusion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells After Stroke in Rats. Physical Therapy 2016, 96:1791-1798.
- Biological relevance of tissue factor and IL-6 in arteriovenous malformations.Noshiro S, Mikami T, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Sasaki M, Hashi K, Ohtaki S, Wanibuchi M, Mikuni N, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Biological relevance of tissue factor and IL-6 in arteriovenous malformations. Neurosurgical Review 2017, 40:359-367.
- ACTC1 as an invasion and prognosis marker in glioma.Ohtaki S, Wanibuchi M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Sasaki M, Oka S, Noshiro S, Akiyama Y, Mikami T, Mikuni N, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. ACTC1 as an invasion and prognosis marker in glioma. Journal Of Neurosurgery 2017, 126:467-475.
- Co-expression of tissue factor and IL-6 in immature endothelial cells of cerebral cavernous malformations.Noshiro S, Mikami T, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Sasaki M, Ohnishi H, Ohtaki S, Wanibuchi M, Mikuni N, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Co-expression of tissue factor and IL-6 in immature endothelial cells of cerebral cavernous malformations. Journal Of Clinical Neuroscience : Official Journal Of The Neurosurgical Society Of Australasia 2017, 37:83-90.
- Intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells inhibits intracranial hemorrhage after recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy for transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.Nakazaki M, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Oka S, Namioka T, Namioka A, Onodera R, Suzuki J, Sasaki Y, Nagahama H, Mikami T, Wanibuchi M, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells inhibits intracranial hemorrhage after recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy for transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. Journal Of Neurosurgery 2017, 127:917-926.
- Detection of vulnerable neurons damaged by environmental insults in utero.Torii M, Sasaki M, Chang YW, Ishii S, Waxman SG, Kocsis JD, Rakic P, Hashimoto-Torii K. Detection of vulnerable neurons damaged by environmental insults in utero. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2017, 114:2367-2372.
- Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction Quantification of SERPINA1 Predicts Prognosis in High-Grade Glioma.Ookawa S, Wanibuchi M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Sasaki M, Oka S, Ohtaki S, Noshiro S, Komatsu K, Akiyama Y, Mikami T, Mikuni N, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction Quantification of SERPINA1 Predicts Prognosis in High-Grade Glioma. World Neurosurgery 2018, 111:e783-e789.
- Interleukin-13 receptor alpha 2 as a marker of poorer prognosis in high-grade astrocytomas.Wanibuchi M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Sasaki M, Oka S, Otsuka Y, Yamaguchi M, Ohnishi H, Ohtaki S, Noshiro S, Ookawa S, Mikami T, Mikuni N, Honmou O. Interleukin-13 receptor alpha 2 as a marker of poorer prognosis in high-grade astrocytomas. Journal Of Neurosurgical Sciences 2018, 62:239-244.
- Intravenous Infusion of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reduces Erectile Dysfunction Following Cavernous Nerve Injury in Rats.Matsuda Y, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Takayanagi A, Kobayashi K, Oka S, Nakazaki M, Masumori N, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Intravenous Infusion of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reduces Erectile Dysfunction Following Cavernous Nerve Injury in Rats. Sexual Medicine 2018, 6:49-57.
- Detection of local and remote cellular damage caused by spinal cord and peripheral nerve injury using a heat shock signaling reporter system.Hashimoto-Torii K, Sasaki M, Chang YW, Hwang H, Waxman SG, Kocsis JD, Rakic P, Torii M. Detection of local and remote cellular damage caused by spinal cord and peripheral nerve injury using a heat shock signaling reporter system. IBRO Reports 2018, 5:91-98.
- Intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells reduces epileptogenesis in a rat model of status epilepticus.Fukumura S, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Oka S, Nakazaki M, Nagahama H, Morita T, Sakai T, Tsutsumi H, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells reduces epileptogenesis in a rat model of status epilepticus. Epilepsy Research 2018, 141:56-63.
- Preservation of interhemispheric cortical connections through corpus callosum following intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells in a rat model of cerebral infarction.Nagahama H, Nakazaki M, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Namioka T, Namioka A, Oka S, Onodera R, Suzuki J, Sasaki Y, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Preservation of interhemispheric cortical connections through corpus callosum following intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells in a rat model of cerebral infarction. Brain Research 2018, 1695:37-44.
- Actin, alpha, cardiac muscle 1 (ACTC1) knockdown inhibits the migration of glioblastoma cells in vitro.Wanibuchi M, Ohtaki S, Ookawa S, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Sasaki M, Oka S, Kimura Y, Akiyama Y, Mikami T, Mikuni N, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Actin, alpha, cardiac muscle 1 (ACTC1) knockdown inhibits the migration of glioblastoma cells in vitro. Journal Of The Neurological Sciences 2018, 392:117-121.
- Functional recovery after the systemic administration of mesenchymal stem cells in a rat model of neonatal hypoxia-ischemia.Sakai T, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Oka S, Nakazaki M, Fukumura S, Kobayashi M, Tsutsumi H, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Functional recovery after the systemic administration of mesenchymal stem cells in a rat model of neonatal hypoxia-ischemia. Journal Of Neurosurgery. Pediatrics 2018, 22:513-522.
- Accelerating Cell Therapy for Stroke in Japan: Regulatory Framework and Guidelines on Development of Cell-Based Products.Houkin K, Shichinohe H, Abe K, Arato T, Dezawa M, Honmou O, Horie N, Katayama Y, Kudo K, Kuroda S, Matsuyama T, Miyai I, Nagata I, Niizuma K, Sakushima K, Sasaki M, Sato N, Sawanobori K, Suda S, Taguchi A, Tominaga T, Yamamoto H, Yamashita T, Yoshimine T. Accelerating Cell Therapy for Stroke in Japan: Regulatory Framework and Guidelines on Development of Cell-Based Products. Stroke; A Journal Of Cerebral Circulation 2018, 49:e145-e152.
- Elevated brain derived neurotrophic factor levels in plasma reflect in vivo functional viability of infused mesenchymal stem cells for stroke in rats.Nakamura H, Sasaki Y, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Oka S, Nakazaki M, Namioka T, Namioka A, Onodera R, Suzuki J, Nagahama H, Mikami T, Wanibuchi M, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Elevated brain derived neurotrophic factor levels in plasma reflect in vivo functional viability of infused mesenchymal stem cells for stroke in rats. Journal Of Neurosurgical Sciences 2019, 63:42-49.
- Intravenous Infusion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alters Motor Cortex Gene Expression in a Rat Model of Acute Spinal Cord Injury.Oshigiri T, Sasaki T, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Nakazaki M, Oka S, Morita T, Hirota R, Yoshimoto M, Yamashita T, Hashimoto-Torii K, Honmou O. Intravenous Infusion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alters Motor Cortex Gene Expression in a Rat Model of Acute Spinal Cord Injury. Journal Of Neurotrauma 2019, 36:411-420.
- Intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells improves impaired cognitive function in a cerebral small vessel disease model.Nakazaki M, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Oka S, Suzuki J, Sasaki Y, Nagahama H, Hashi K, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells improves impaired cognitive function in a cerebral small vessel disease model. Neuroscience 2019, 408:361-377.
- Prevention of neointimal hyperplasia induced by an endovascular stent via intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells.Nakazaki M, Oka S, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Onodera R, Komatsu K, Iihoshi S, Hiroura M, Kawaguchi A, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Prevention of neointimal hyperplasia induced by an endovascular stent via intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells. Journal Of Neurosurgery 2019, 1-13.
- "Chronic" State in Neural Diseases as the Target of Cellular Therapy with Mesenchymal Stem Cells.Sasaki M, Oka S, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. "Chronic" State in Neural Diseases as the Target of Cellular Therapy with Mesenchymal Stem Cells. World Neurosurgery 2020, 135:375-376.
- Intravenous delivery of mesenchymal stem cells protects both white and gray matter in spinal cord ischemia.Yasuda N, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Nagahama H, Kocsis JD, Kawaharada N, Honmou O. Intravenous delivery of mesenchymal stem cells protects both white and gray matter in spinal cord ischemia. Brain Research 2020, 1747:147040.
- Intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells delays disease progression in the SOD1G93A transgenic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis rat model.Magota H, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Oka S, Ukai R, Kiyose R, Onodera R, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells delays disease progression in the SOD1G93A transgenic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis rat model. Brain Research 2021, 1757:147296.
- Focal brainstem infarction in the adult rat.Namioka A, Namioka T, Sasaki M, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Focal brainstem infarction in the adult rat. Lab Animal 2021, 50:97-107.
- Intravenous Infusion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhances Therapeutic Efficacy of Reperfusion Therapy in Cerebral Ischemia.Kiyose R, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Nakazaki M, Nagahama H, Magota H, Oka S, Ukai R, Takemura M, Yokoyama T, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Intravenous Infusion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhances Therapeutic Efficacy of Reperfusion Therapy in Cerebral Ischemia. World Neurosurgery 2021, 149:e160-e169.
- Intravenous infusion of auto serum-expanded autologous mesenchymal stem cells in spinal cord injury patients: 13 case series.Honmou O, Yamashita T, Morita T, Oshigiri T, Hirota R, Iyama S, Kato J, Sasaki Y, Ishiai S, Ito YM, Namioka A, Namioka T, Nakazaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Onodera R, Oka S, Sasaki M, Waxman SG, Kocsis JD. Intravenous infusion of auto serum-expanded autologous mesenchymal stem cells in spinal cord injury patients: 13 case series. Clinical Neurology And Neurosurgery 2021, 203:106565.
- Repeated infusion of mesenchymal stem cells maintain the condition to inhibit deteriorated motor function, leading to an extended lifespan in the SOD1G93A rat model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Magota H, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Oka S, Ukai R, Kiyose R, Onodera R, Kocsis JD, Honmou O. Repeated infusion of mesenchymal stem cells maintain the condition to inhibit deteriorated motor function, leading to an extended lifespan in the SOD1G93A rat model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Molecular Brain 2021, 14:76.