Report of KU - UZH Joint Research Project
Section 1
Project title:
Project coordinator (KU)
Name
Position
Faculty, department
Project coordinator (UZH)
Name
Position
Faculty, department
Period of project
Project location

No. of participants

Synergistic joint research to regulate mitochondrial function and control
inflammation associated with aging of skin cells
Ganesh Pandian NAMASIVAYAM
Junior Associate Professor
Graduate School of Engineering/Department of Molecular Engineering/
Institute for Integrated Cell Material Sciences (iCeMS)/Kyoto/Japan
Marie-Charlotte Brüggen
Assistant Professor
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, SwitzerlandFaculty of Medicine, University Zurich, Zurich, Christine Kühne
Foundation of Allergy Research and Education (CK CARE), Davos,Switzerland
From: 1 April 2022
To: 31 March 2023
Zurich University and Kyoto University[KU] Faculty members: Hiroshi Sugiyama Students: Katsuhiko AbeOthers:[UZH] Faculty members: Reihane Ziadlou Students: Danielle
Céline Fehr Others:*A participant list can be attached instead of completing the above section.
The list should include the details above.
Ganesh Namasivayam presented in UZH Skintegrity symposium on`Frontiers in Skin Aging Research`.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/skintegrity-ch_symposium-skinagingactivity-7023624713767677952yHK_?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

URL at which project
outcomes can be viewed (e.g.
workshop
notifications/programs/reports,
evidence of academic papers
Our collaborative article is accepted with minor revision in Allergy Journal
published or otherwise made(Impact Factor: 14.7) and below is the link to pre-print.
available, etc.)
https://www.authorea.com/users/621641/articles/645152-nucleicacidbased-small-molecules-as-targeted-transcription-therapeuticsforimmunoregulation1/3

Photographs with captions

Please submit digital files (such as JPEG or GIF files) of the photographs
used in your report as attachments. The size of each image should be 4MB,
so that it can be used for printed materials. Please ensure that none of thephotographs submitted will cause any issues relating to portrait rights.

2/3

Section 2
Summary of the project (approx. 200 words)*Please submit a summary of the project in Japanese in addition to the English summary (approx. 400characters).
Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production due to chronological and UV-induced skin aging
leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and skin disorders. Despite the accumulated knowledge about ROS
and skin health, therapeutic targeting of ROS has yet to be achieved. In FY 2022, KU synthesized
artificial genetic switches capable of activating collagen expression and controlling ROS expression in
97-year-old human skin cells and UZH validated them in human adipocytes. A manuscript was acceptedwith minor revisions in Allergy Journal and two manuscripts are in review. Dr. Namasivayam visitedand successfully fostered the KU-UZH relationship with the extended network. Dr. Namasivayam joinedthe `Skintegrity community of UZH` and delivered a lecture at 1) a mini-symposium on Skin Aging
Research in Zurich, 2) UZH (Davos) and AO Research Institute in Davos. Mr. Katushiko Abe from KU
also visited UZH using the JSPS Young Researcher Grant and Dr. Reihane visited KU using her grant.
Director Prof. Cezmi Akdis of SIAF, UZH, has joined as a project coordinator for the FY2023 KU-UZHgeneral grant. The KU project leader received the JSPS Kiban B grant (FY2023-2026) with the UZH
project leader as a research collaborator. The teams expect to sustain the collaborative activities withfurther grant applications.
加齢や紫外線による皮膚の老化によって活性酸素種（ROS）が過剰に産生されることで、ミトコンドリアの機能障害や皮膚障害が引き起こされる。活性酸素と皮膚の健康に関する研究は進んでいるものの、活性酸素の治療標的化はまだ達成されていない。2022 年度、KU は 97 歳のヒト皮膚細胞において、コラーゲン発現を活性化し、活性酸素発現を制御できる人工遺伝子スイッチを合成し、UZH はヒト脂肪細胞においてそれを検証した。論文 1 本が Allergy Journal に受理され、2 本が査読中である。加えて、Namasivayam 博士が KU-UZH を訪問し、両研究室の関係性の強化に努めた。UZH の Skintegrity コミュニティに参加し、1)チューリッヒでの皮膚老化研究に関するミニシンポジウム、2)UZH(ダボス)と AO 研究所(ダボス)で講演を行った。また、日本学術振興会若手研究グラントで KU の安倍克彦氏が UZH を訪問し、同グラントでReihane 博士が KU を訪問した。更に、UZH の SIAF の Director Prof. Cezmi Akdis が 2023 年度
KU-UZH 一般助成のプロジェクトコーディネーターとして参加した。KU のプロジェクトリー
ダーは、UZH のプロジェクトリーダーを研究協力者として、JSPS 基盤研究(B)（2023-2026 年度）に採択された。両チームは、さらなる助成金申請により共同研究を継続する予定である。

3/3