An official website of the United States government
          Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you know**Official websites use .gov**A
              **.gov** website belongs to an official government
              organization in the United States.
        **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**A
              **lock** (
              Locked padlock icon) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
 Top Utility Nav
        
        
        Asian-Language Resources
        
        Portal en español


Site search Mega Menu
  

        

        Home
                  Health Topics
                                      
    
  Health Topics

    Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
          
    Muscle and Bone Diseases
          
    Skin Diseases
          
    All Diseases and Conditions
          
    Publication Catalog
                  Grants & Funding
                                      
    
  Grants & Funding

    Current Funding Opportunities
          
    Supported Scientific Programs
          
    NIAMS-Supported Programs
          
    Applying for a Grant
          
    NIH Policies and Guidance
          
    Peer Review and Grants Administration Resources
          
    Types of Funding Mechanisms (Activity Codes)
                  Labs @ NIAMS
                                      
    
  Labs @ NIAMS

    NIAMS Labs and Core Facilities
          
    Research Faculty
          
    Research Areas
          
    NIAMS Scientific Advances
          
    Training and Career Development
                  Clinical Trials
                                      
    
  Clinical Trials
      
            For Principal Investigators

    Clinical Trial Policies, Guidelines, and Templates
          
    Conducting Clinical Trials
          
    Register with ClinicalTrials.gov

For Patients

What is a Clinical Trial?
	Clinical Trials at NIAMS
	Clinical Trials in the Spotlight
                  News & Events
                                      
    
  Newsroom

    All NIAMS News
          
    NIAMS Newsletters
          
    Meetings & Events
                  About NIAMS
                                      
    
  About NIAMS

    Director's Page
          
    NIAMS Organization
          
    Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2020-2024
          
    Staff Directory
          
    NIAMS Budget
          
    Partnerships
          
    Contact NIAMS
                  Community Outreach
                                      
    
  Community Outreach

    Bone Health
          
    Joint Health
          
    Muscle, Tendon, and Ligament Health
          
    Skin Health
          
    Health Information For Kids And Young Adults
          
    Health Information For Older Adults/Seniors
          
    Printable Materials for Community Events
          
    Resources in Other Languages
          
    Annual Health Observances
          
    Social Media Resources Breadcrumb
    Home
          About NIAMS
          Akiko Sekiguchi, M.D., Ph.D.





Akiko Sekiguchi, M.D., Ph.D.


Postdoctoral Fellow (Visiting)
    Cutaneous Leukocyte Biology Section Profile Image 
            Contact Information

                                                  301-480-7290
                
                                                10 Center Drive
                  
            Building 10, Room 12N256
      
                  
                                   Bethesda MD 20892
                
                                                akiko.sekiguchi@nih.gov 
                Summary
          Akiko Sekiguchi received her Ph.D. in Dermatology. She studies the mechanisms of pressure ulcers and develops new treatments for these diseases. She is also interested in autoimmune diseases, such as systemic sclerosis and dermatomyositis.

In the past, Dr. Sekiguchi conducted vigorous studies of skin wound healing, including pressure ulcers. She found that a local injection of botulinum toxin and mesenchymal stem cells inhibited ulceration caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury. She identified that a zinc deficiency exacerbates pressure ulcers by increasing oxidative stress and ATP in the skin.

In other research, Dr. Sekiguchi has actively conducted basic and clinical research on systemic sclerosis. She revealed the physiological role of extracellular ATP in the regulation of skin fibrosis and found that kaempferol, a kind of polyphenol, has an inhibitory effect. Recently, she became interested in the inhibitory effect of bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis by regulating the balance of regulatory T cells and Th17 cells.
        
                  Research Statement
          
            The skin is the largest organ in our body and performs a complex function to protect our internal organs from external stimuli. One of the main features of the skin is its function in the immune system. A disruption in skin immunity can cause various diseases and impact the functioning of the entire body. Dr. Sekiguchi is currently interested in the mechanisms by which the skin immune system relates to skin and systemic health. She plans to use the latest technology to study the skin's immune system and conduct research to elucidate the pathogenesis of intractable skin diseases caused by its disorders. 

            Scientific Publications 
          Education
              
            **Gunma University School of Medicine**M.D. (2008)**Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine**Ph.D., Dermatology (2020)             
                        Experience
              
            **Clinical Staff Member**Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine (2014-2021)**Postdoctoral Fellowship**Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine (2020-2021)


Last Updated: March 2024


Back to Top
 About NIAMS
                    Clinical Trials
                    Grants & Funding
                    Health Topics
                    Labs @ NIAMS
              News Room
                    NIAMS Multimedia Library
                    Disclaimer
                    FOIA
                    Contact us
              Privacy Statement
                    Accessibility
                    HHS Vulnerability Disclosure
                    Social Media Moderation Policy
                    NIAMS Archives
        Subscribe to Our E-Newsletters
            Click the button to see different options to sign up for newsletters.
            Click Here to Subscribe
          Follow us on
  
  About NIH
                  Accessibility Support
            FOIA requests
                  No FEAR Act data
            Office of the Inspector General
                  Performance reports
            Privacy Policy