Junko Kurokawa, Ph.D.
E-mail: junkokuro@u-shizuoka-ken.ac.jp
Homepage: http://w3pharm.u-shizuoka-ken.ac.jp/rinsho/Employment
University of Shizuoka, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences: Professor (2016-present)
Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Medical Research Institute: Associate Professor(2006- 2016)
Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Medical Research Institute: Assistant Professor(2004- 2006)
Columbia University: Associate Research Scientist (2003- 2004)

Education
Postdoctoral training, Columbia University, USA, 1999-2004
Postdoctoral training, Georgetown University, USA, 1998-1999
Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan, 1998
Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan, 1995
Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan, 1993

Regular courses at the University of Shizuoka
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences:
Clinical Laboratory Medicine
Pharmacotherapy I II
Introduction to history of the Drugs

Selected publications
1. Okata S, Yuasa S, Suzuki T, Ito S, Makita N, Yoshida T, Lin M, Kurokawa J, Seki T,
Egashira T, Aizawa Y, Kodaira M, Motoda C, Yozu G, Shimojima Masaya, Hayashiji N,Hashimoto H, Kuroda Y, Tanaka A, Murata M, Aiba T, Shimizu W, Horie M, Kamiya K,Furukawa T, Fukuda K. (2016) Embryonic type Na+ 1 channel β-subunit, SCN3B masks
the disease phenotype of Brugada 2 syndrome. Sci Rep, 6, 34198.
2. López-Redondo F, Kurokawa J, Nomura F, Kaneko T, Hamada T, Furukawa T, Yasuda
K. (2016) A distribution analysis of action potential parameters obtained frompatch-clamped human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. J Pharmacol Sci, 131,
141-145. doi:10.1016/j.jphs.2016.04.015
3. Sugiyama K, Sasano T, Kurokawa J, Takahashi K, Okamura T, Kato N, Isobe M,Furukawa T. (2016) Oxidative stress induced ventricular arrhythmia and impairment ofcardiac function in Nos1ap deleted mice. Int Heart J, 2016,05:57.
4. Nagamori S, Wiriyasermkul P, Espino Guarch M, Okuyama H, Nakagomi S, Tadagaki K,
Nishinaka Y, Bodoy S, Takafuji K, Okuda S, Kurokawa J, Ohgaki R, Nunes V, Palacín M,Kanai Y. (2016) Novel cystine transporter in renal proximal tubule identified as a “missingpartner” of cystinuria-related SLC3A1 (rBAT). Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A., 113, 775-780.
5. Takahashi K, Sasano T, Sugiyama K, Kurokawa J, Tamura N, Soejima Y, Sawabe M,Isobe M, Furukawa T. (2015) High-Fat Diet Increases Vulnerability to Atrial Arrhythmia byConduction Disturbance via miR-27b. J Mol Cell Cardiol, 90, 38-46.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yjmcc.2015.11.034
6. Yamakawa H, Muraoka N, Miyamoto K, Sadahiro T, Isomi M, Haginiwa S, Kojima H,Umei T, Akiyama M, Kuishi Y, Kurokawa J, Furukawa T, Fukuda K, Ieda M. (2015)
Fibroblast Growth Factors and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Promote Cardiac
Reprogramming under Defined Conditions. Stem Cell Rep, 5, 1128-1142.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2015.10.019
7. SaitoY, Nakamura K, Yoshida M, Sugiyama H, Ohe T, Kurokawa J, Furukawa T, Takano
M, Nagase S, Morita H, Kusano KF, Ito H. (2015) Enhancement of Spontaneous Activity
by HCN4 overexpression in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell-derived Cardiomyocytes - aPossible Biological Pacemaker. PLoS ONE, 10, e0138193.
8. Okada J, Yoshinaga T, Kurokawa J, Washio T, Furukawa T, Sawada K, Sugiura S, HisadaT. (2015) Screening system for drug-induced arrhythmogenic risk combining patch clamp
and a heart simulator. Science Advances, 1, e1400142. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1400142
9. Kurokawa J, Sasano T*(*contributed equally), Kodama M, Li M, Ebana Y, Harada N,Honda SI, Nakaya H, Furukawa T. (2015) Aromatase knockout mice reveal an impact ofestrogen on drug-induced alternation of murine electrocardiography parameters. JToxicol Sci, 40, 339-348. doi: 10.2131/jts.40.339.
10.
Hayakawa T#, Kunihiro T, Ando T, Kobayashi S, Matsui E, Yada H, Kanda Y,Kurokawa J, Furukawa T#. (2014) Image-based evaluation of contraction-relaxation
kinetics of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes: correlation andcomplementarity with extracellular electrophysiology. J Mol Cell Cardiol, 77, 178-191.
11. Asayama M, Kurokawa J, Shirakawa K, Okuyama H, Kagawa T, Okada J, Sugiura S,Hisada T, Furukawa T. (2013) Effects of a hERG activator, ICA-105574, on
electrophysiological properties of canine hearts. J Pharmacol Sci, 121, 1-8.
12. Egashira T, Yuasa S, Suzuki T, Aizawa Y, Yamakawa H, Matsuhashi Tomohiro, Ohno
Y, Tohyama S, Okata S, Seki T, Kuroda Y, Yae K, Hashimoto H, Tanaka T, Hattori F,Sato T, Miyoshi S, Takatsuki S, Murata M, Kurokawa J, Furukawa T, Makita N, Aiba T,Shimizu W, Horie M, Kamiya K, Kodama I, Ogawa S, Fukuda K. (2012) Diseasecharacterization using LQTS-specific induced pluripotent stem cells. Cardiovascular
Research, 95, 419-29.
13. Sugiyama H, Nakamura K, Morita H, Akagi S, Tani Y, Katayama Y, Nishii N, Miyoshi T,Nagase S, Kohno K, Kusano KF, Ohe T, Kurokawa J, Furukawa T, Ito H. (2011)
Circulating KCNH2 Current-Activating Factor in Patients with Heart Failure andVentricular Tachyarrhythmia. PLoS One. 6, e198897.
14. Yang PC, Kurokawa J, Furukawa T, Clancy CE. (2010) Acute effects of sex steroid
hormones on susceptibility to cardiac arrhythmias: A Simulation Study. PLoS Comput
Biol 6, 29, e1000658.

15. Kaihara A, Sunami A, Kurokawa J, Furukawa T. (2009) A genetically encodedbioluminescent indicator for the sodium channel activity in living cells. J Am Chem Soc,131, 41388-4189.
16. Kakusaka S, Asayama M, Kaihara A, Sasano T, Suzuki T, Kurokawa J, Furukawa T.
(2009) A receptor-independent effect of estrone sulfate on the hERG channel. J
Pharmacol Sci, 109, 152-156.
17. Asada K, Kurokawa J, Furukawa T. (2009) Redox- and calmodulin-dependent
S-nitrosylation of the KCNQ1 channel. J Biol Chem, 284, 6014-6020.
18. Kurokawa J, Bankston JR, Kaihara A, Chen L, Furukawa T & Kass RS. (2009) KCNE
variants reveal a critical role of the beta subunit carboxyl terminus in PKA-dependent
regulation of the IKs potassium channel. Channels, 3, 16-24.
19. Kurokawa J, Tamagawa M, Harada N, Honda S, Bai CX, Nakaya H, Furukawa T. (2008)
Acute effects of estrogen on the guinea pig and human IKr channels and drug-induced
prolongation of cardiac repolarization. J Physiol (Lond.), 586, 2961-2973.
20. Nakamura H, Kurokawa J, Bai CX, Asada K, Xu J, Oren RV, Zhu ZI, Clancy CE, Isobe M& Furukawa T. (2007) Progesterone regulates cardiac repolarization through a
non-genomic pathway: An in vitro patch-clamp and computational modeling study.
Circulation, 116, 2913-2922.
21. Tani Y, Miura D, Kurokawa J, Nakamura K, Ouchida M, Shimizu K, Ohe T & Furukawa T.
(2007) T75M-KCNJ2 mutation causing Andersen-Tawil syndrome enhances inward
rectification by changing Mg2+ sensitivity. J Mol Cell Cardiol, 43, 187-196.
22. Asaoka H, Kurokawa J, Furukawa T & Shimokado K. (2007)

High glucose+concentrations impair the activation of K channels and proteases in undifferentiatedTHP-1 monocytes. J Med Dent Sci, 54, 97-102.
23. Furukawa T, Bai CX, Kaihara A, Ozaki E, Kawano T, Nakaya Y, Awais M, Sato M, Umezawa Y,Kurokawa J.(2006). Ginsenoside Re, a main phytosterol of Panax ginseng, activates cardiac
potassium channels via a non-genomic pathway of sex hormones. Mol Pharmacol, 70,1916-1924.
24. Furukawa T, Kurokawa J.(2006) Potassium channel remodeling in cardiac hypertrophy. J Mol
Cell Cardiol, 41, 753-761.
25. Bai C-X, Kurokawa J, Tamagawa M, Nakaya H, Furukawa T (2005). Non-transcriptional
regulation of cardiac repolarization currents by testosterone. Circulation, 112, 1701-1710.
26. Chen L, Kurokawa J, Kass RS (2005). Phosphorylation of the AKAP Yotiao contributes toPKA regulation of a heart potassium channel. J Biol Chem, 280, 3134 7-31352.
27. Shushi L, Keren B, Goldmit M, Peretz A, Attali B, Medina A, Towbin JA, Kurokawa J, Kass RS,Benhorin J (2005). Clinical, Genetic, and Electrophysiologic Characteristics of a New
Pas-Domain HERG Mutation (M124R) Causing Long QT Syndrome. Ann Noninvasive
Electrocardiol. 10, 334-341.
28. Bai C-X, Namekata I, Kurokawa J, Tanaka H, Shigenobu K, Furukawa T (2005). Role of nitricoxide in Ca2+-sensitivity of the delayed rectifier K+ current in cardiac myocytes. Circ Res 96,
64-72
29. Kurokawa J, Motoike HK, Rao J & Kass RS (2004). Regulatory actions of the A kinaseanchoring protein Yotiao on a heart potassium channel downstream of PKA phosphorylation.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A., 101, 16374-16378.
30. Dilly KW*, Kurokawa J*(* contributed equally), Terrenoire C, Reiken S, Lederer WJ, Marks
AR, Kass RS (2004). Overexpression of beta 2-adrenergic receptors PKA phosphorylates
and modulates slow delayed rectifier potassium channels expressed in murine heart:
Evidence for receptor/channel co-localization. J Biol Chem, 279, 40778-40787.
31. Tateyama M, Kurokawa J, Terrenoire C, Rivolta I, Kass RS (2003). Stimulation of protein
kinase C inhibits bursting in disease-linked mutant human cardiac sodium channels.
Circulation, 107, 3216-3222.
32. Kurokawa J, Chen L, Kass RS (2003). Requirement of subunit expression for
cAMP-mediated regulation of a heart potassium channel. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A., 100,2122-2127.
33. Tracy CC, Cabo C, Coromilas J, Kurokawa J, Kass RS, Wit AL (2003). Electrophysiologicalconsequences of human I-Ks channel expression in adult murine heart. Am J Physiol-Heartand Circulatory Physiology, 284, H168-H175.
34. Marx SO*, Kurokawa J* (*contributed equally), Reiken S, Motoike HK, D’Armiento JM,
Marks AR, Kass RS (2002). Requirement of a macromolecular signaling complex for b
adrenergic receptor modulation of the KCNQ1-KCNE1 potassium channel. Science, 295,496-499.
35. Kurokawa J, Motoike HK, Kass RS (2001). TEA+-sensitive KCNQ1 constructs reveal
pore-independent access to KCNE1 in assembled IKs channels. J Gen Physiol, 117, 43-52.
36. Kurokawa J, Adachi-Akahane S and Nagao T (1997). Effects of a novel, potent
benzothiazepine Ca2+ channel antagonist, DTZ323, on guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. EurJ Pharmacol, 325, 229-236
37. Kurokawa J, Adachi-Akahane S and Nagao T (1997). 1,5-benzothiazepine binding domain is
located on the extracellular side of the cardiac L-type Ca2+ channel. Mol Pharmacol, 51,262-268
38. Kanda S, Kurokawa J, Adachi-Akahane S and Nagao T (1997). Diltiazem derivatives
modulate the dihydropyridine-binding to intact rat ventricular myocytes. Eur J Pharmacol,
319, 101-107

Reviews
39.

Kurokawa J, Kodama M, Clancy CE and Tetsushi Furukawa (2016). Sex hormonal
regulation of cardiac ion channels in drug-induced QT syndromes. Pharmacology &Therapeutics, in press.

40.

Kanda Y, Yamazaki D, Kurokawa J, Inutsuka T and Sekino Y (2016). Points toconsider for a validation study of iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes using a
multi-electrode array system. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods, in press.

41.

Kurokawa J, Furukawa T. (2013) Non-genomic action of sex steroid hormones and42.

cardiac repolarization. Biol. Pharmaceut Bull, 36, 8-12.
Kurokawa J, Furukawa T. (2012) Region- and condition-dependence of the membrane andCa2+ clocks in the sinus node. Circ J, 76, 293-294. Editorial Comments.

43.

Kurokawa J, Abriel H. (2009) Neurohormonal Regulation of Cardiac Ion Channels in
Chronic Heart Failure. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol, 54, 98-105.

44.

Kurokawa J, Suzuki T, Furukawa T. (2009) Acute effects of female hormones on cardiac ionchannels and cardiac repolarization. J Pharmacol Sci, 109, 334-340.

45.

Furukawa T, Kurokawa J, CE Clancy. (2008) A combined approach using patch-clamp
study and computer study for understanding long QT syndrome and TdP in women. CurrCardiol Rev, 4, 157-169.

46.

Furukawa T, Kurokawa J. (2008) Non-genomic regulation of cardiac ion channels bysex hormones. Cardiovasc Hematol Disord Drug Targets, 8, 245-251.
47. Kurokawa J. (2007) Compartmentalized Regulations of Ion Channels in the Heart. Biological& Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 30, 2231-2237.
48. Furukawa T, Kurokawa J. (2007) Regulation of cardiac ion channels via non-genomic actionof sex steroid hormones: Implication of gender-difference in cardiac arrhythmias. Pharmacol
Ther, 115, 106-115.
49. Kurokawa J, Furukawa T (2005). Protein modification of cardiac potassium channels andlethal arrhythmias. Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi, 126, 273-279. In Japanese.
50. Clancy CE, Kurokawa J, Tateyama M, Wehrens XHT, Kass RS (2003). K+ channel
structure-activity relationships and mechanisms of drug-induced QT prolongation. Ann Rev
Pharmacol Toxicol, 43, 441-461.
51. Kass RS, Kurokawa J, Marx SO, Marks AR (2003). Leucine/isoleucine zipper coordination ofion channel macromolecular signaling complexes in the heart: Roles in inherited arrhythmias.
Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine, 13, 52-56.
52. Kurokawa J, Abriel H, Kass RS (2001). Molecular basis of the delayed rectifier current IKs inheart. J Mol Cell Cardiol, 33, 873-882.
Books (chapters):

53. Sasano T, Kurokawa J (2013) Remodeling of potassium channels in cardiac
hypertrophy In: Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiac Remodeling. Jugdutt BI, Dhalla
NS (Eds): Springer, New York, p31-45.
54. Kurokawa J, Kodama M, Furukawa T, Clancy CE (2012) Sex and gender aspects inanti-arrhythmic therapy. In: Sex and Gender Difference in Pharmacology.
Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 214, Rigitz-Zagosek V (Ed):Springer-Verlag, Germany. p237-263. DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-30726-3_12
55. Chen L, Carroll SJ, Kurokawa J, Kass RS (2009). Chapter 18: KCNQ1/KCNE1
macromolecular signaling complex: channel microdomains and human disease. In:
Cardiac Electrophysiology from Cell to Bedside. Zipes DP, Jalife J (Eds): Saunders,Philadelphia, pp187-194.
56. Marx SO and Kurokawa J (2006). AKAPs as Antiarrhythmic Targets? In: Handbook ofExperimental Pharmacology. Clancy CE, Kass RS (Eds): Springer-Verlag, Germany.
pp221-234
57. Carroll SJ, Kurokawa J, Kass RS (2004). Chapter 17: KCNQ1/KCNE1 macromolecularsignaling complex: channel microdomains and human disease. In: Cardiac
Electrophysiology from Cell to Bedside. Zipes DP, Jalife J (Eds): Saunders, Philadelphia,pp143-150.

Awards and honors
1) Human Frontier Science Program Short Term Fellowship (1/99-3/99)
2) The Uehara Memorial Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (7/99-6/00)
3) Dan Charitable Trust Fund for Research in the Biological Sciences (4/00)
4) American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship (7/01-6/03)
5) Japan Society Promotion of Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships for ResearchAbroad (7/03-7/04)
6) Best presentation award of Japanese Pharmacological Society Annual Meeting(3/06)
7) Young Investigator Award of Nitric Oxide Society of Japan (5/06)
8) The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan Award for Young Scientists '07 (3/07)
9) American Heart Association The Mervin Marcus Award Finalist (11/07)
10) The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education,Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, The Young Scientists’ Prize (04/09)

Editorial Service:
Editorial Board member for Journal of Pharmacological Sciences
Editorial Board member for Journal of Toxicological Sciences