研究業績Achievements

Original Articles

  1. Usui N*, Doi M, Berto S, Matsuoka K, Ishida R, Miyauchi H, Fujiwara Y, Irie K, Toritsuka M, Yamauchi T, Hirai T, Xie MJ, Kayashima Y, Umeda N, Iwata K, Okumura K, Harada T, Katayama T, Tsujii M, Matsuzaki H, Makinodan M, Shimada S. Copper deficiency impairs oligodendrocyte maturation and social behavior via mitophagy and mTOR suppression in ASD. Science Advances In press.
  2. Kawai Y, Bizen N, Nishiyama K, Takebayashi H. Ddx20, DEAD-box helicase 20 is essential for maintaining microglial homeostasis. Experimental Neurology 19:401:115743, 2026.
  3. Xie MJ†, Murata K†, Kuniishi H, Fukazawa Y, Usui N, Matsuzaki H. N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor Deletion in Dopamine D2 Receptor Cells and Associated Neuronal and Behavioural Changes in Mice. bioRxiv 2025.12.17.694809, 2025.
  4. Ise M, Bizen N, Simankova A, Okuyama K, Shibata S, Tada M, Takebayashi H. An inducible oligodendrocyte dysfunction triggered a pathological cascade of massive microglial activation and neurodegeneration. Neurobiology of Disease 216:107142, 2025.
  5. Ito A†, Usui N†*, Doi M, Shimada S. Adolescent methamphetamine exposure drives neuroinflammation and aberrant neurogenesis linked to anxiety and cognitive impairments in adult mice. Translational Psychiatry 15(1):364, 2025.
  6. Man X, Usui N*, Doi M, Shimada S. Sex differences in placental structure and gene expression in ICR mice during embryonic development. Scientific Reports 15(1):24067, 2025.
  7. Togawa S, Usui N*, Doi M, Kobayashi Y, Koyama Y, Nakamura Y, Shinoda K, Kobayashi H, Shimada S. Neuroprotective effects of Si-based hydrogen-producing agent on 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity in juvenile mouse model. Behavioural Brain Research 468:115040, 2024.
  8. Li D, Johmura Y, Morimoto S, Doi M, Nakanishi K, Ozawa M, Tsunekawa Y, Inoue-Yamauchi A, Naruse H, Matsukawa T, Takeshita Y, Suzuki N, Aoki M, Nishiyama A, Zeng X, Konishi C, Suzuki N, Nishiyama A, Harris AS, Morita M, Yamaguchi K, Furukawa Y, Nakai K, Tsuji S, Yamazaki S, Yamanashi Y, Shimada S, Okada T, Okano H, Toda T, Nakanishi M. LONRF2 is a protein quality control ubiquitin ligase whose deficiency causes late-onset neurological deficits. Nature Aging 3(8):1001-1019, 2023.
  9. Takahashi N, Nishimura T, Harada T, Okumura A, Iwabuchi T, Rahman MS, Kuwabara H, Takagai S, Usui N, Makinodan M, Matsuzaki H, Ozaki N, Itoh H, Nomura Y, Newcorn JH, Tsuchiya KJ. Interaction of genetic liability for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and perinatal inflammation contributes to ADHD symptoms in children. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health 30:100630, 2023.
  10. Doi M, Nakama N, Sumi T, Usui N*, Shimada S. Prenatal methamphetamine exposure causes dysfunction in glucose metabolism and low birthweight. Frontiers in Endocrinology 13:1023984, 2022.
  11. Nakamura Y, Sumi T, Mitani O, Okamoto T, Kubo E, Masui K, Kondo M, Koyama Y, Usui N, Shimada S. SR 57227A, a serotonin type-3 receptor agonist, as a candidate analgesic agent targeting nociplastic pain. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 622:143-148, 2022.
  12. Usui N*, Matsumoto-Miyai K, Koyama Y, Kobayashi Y, Nakamura Y, Kobayashi H, Shimada S*. Social Communication of Maternal Immune Activation-Affected Offspring Is Improved by Si-Based Hydrogen-Producing Agent. Frontiers in Psychiatry 13:872302, 2022.
  13. Usui N†*, Tian X†, Harigai W, Togawa S, Utsunomiya R, Doi T, Miyoshi K, Shinoda K, Tanaka J, Shimada S, Katayama T, Yoshimura T*. Length impairments of the axon initial segment in rodent models of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Neurochemistry International 153:105273, 2022.
  14. Usui N*, Ono Y, Aramaki R, Berto S, Konopka G, Matsuzaki H, Shimada S. Early Life Stress Alters Gene Expression and Cytoarchitecture in the Prefrontal Cortex Leading to Social Impairment and Increased Anxiety. Frontiers in Genetics 12:754198, 2021.
  15. Doi M, Oka Y, Taniguchi M, Sato M. Transient expansion of the expression region of Hsd11b1, encoding 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, in the developing mouse neocortex. Journal of Neurochemistry 159(4):778-788, 2021.
  16. Usui N*, Matsuzaki H, Shimada S. Characterization of Early Life Stress-Affected Gut Microbiota. Brain Sciences 11(7):913, 2021.
  17. Oka Y, Doi M, Taniguchi M, Tiong SYX, Akiyama H, Yamamoto T, Iguchi T, Sato M. Interstitial Axon Collaterals of Callosal Neurons Form Association Projections from the Primary Somatosensory to Motor Cortex in Mice. Cerebral Cortex 31(11):5225-5238, 2021.
  18. Toriumi K, Berto S, Koike S, Usui N, Dan T, Suzuki K, Miyashita M, Horiuchi Y, Yoshikawa A, Asakura M, Nagahama K, Lin HC, Sugaya Y, Watanabe T, Kano M, Ogasawara Y, Miyata T, Itokawa M, Konopka G, Arai M. Combined glyoxalase 1 dysfunction and vitamin B6 deficiency in a schizophrenia model system causes mitochondrial dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex. Redox Biology 45:102057, 2021.
  19. Usui N*, Togawa S, Sumi T, Kobayashi Y, Koyama Y, Nakamura Y, Kondo M, Kobayashi H, Shinoda K, Shimada S*. Si-Based Hydrogen-Producing Nanoagent Protects Fetuses From Miscarriage Caused by Mother-to-Child Transmission. Frontiers in Medical Technology 3:665506, 2021.
  20. Toriumi K, Miyashita M, Suzuki K, Yamasaki N, Yasumura M, Horiuchi Y, Yoshikawa A, Asakura M, Usui N, Itokawa M, Arai M. Vitamin B6 deficiency activates the noradrenergic system, leading to social deficits and cognitive impairment. Translational Psychiatry 11(1):262, 2021.
  21. Usui N*, Berto S, Konishi A, Kondo M, Konopka G, Matsuzaki H, Shimada S. Zbtb16 regulates social cognitive behaviors and neocortical development. Translational Psychiatry 11(1):242, 2021.
  22. Jeong H†, Mendizabal I†, Berto S, Chatterjee P, Layman T, Usui N, Toriumi K, Douglas C, Singh D, Huh I, Preuss T, Konopka G, Yi SV. Evolution of DNA Methylation in the Human Brain. Nature Communications 12(1):2021, 2021.
  23. Nakamura Y, Okano Y, Sato M, Kobayashi M, Yamaguchi T, Sumi T, Koyama Y, Kondo M, Usui N, Shimada S. Pain-like behavior in mice can be induced by the environmental context in which the pain stimulus was previously given. Neuroreport 32(5):386-393, 2021.
  24. Higashi M†, Yoshimura T†, Usui N, Kano Y, Deguchi A, Tanabe K, Uchimura Y, Kuriyama S, Suzuki Y, Masaki T, Ikenaka K. A potential serum N-glycan biomarker for hepatitis C virus-related early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma with liver cirrhosis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21(23):8913, 2020.
  25. Hirayama A, Wakusawa K, Fujioka T, Iwata K, Usui N, Kurita D, Kameno Y, Wakuda T, Takagai T, Hirai T, Nara T, Itoh H, Nagano Y, Oowada S, Tsujii M, Tsuchiya KJ, Matsuzaki H. Simultaneous evaluation of antioxidative serum profiles facilitates the diagnostic screening of autism spectrum disorder in under-six-year-old children. Scientific Reports 10(1):20602, 2020.
  26. Hirai T, Usui N, Iwata K, Miyachi T, Tsuchiya KJ, Xie MJ, Nakamura K, Tsujii M, Sugiyama T, Matsuzaki H. Increased plasma lipoprotein lipase activity in males with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 77:101630, 2020.
  27. Usui N, Iwata K, Miyachi T, Takagai S, Wakusawa K, Nara T, Tsuchiya KJ, Matsumoto K, Kurita D, Kameno Y, Wakuda T, Takebayashi K, Iwata Y, Fujioka T, Hirai T, Toyoshima M, Ohnishi T, Ohba H, Hisano Y, Toyota T, Iwayama Y, Maekawa M, Yoshikawa T, Maekawa M, Nakamura K, Tsujii M, Sugiyama T, Mori N, Matsuzaki H. VLDL-specific increases of fatty acids in autism spectrum disorder correlate with social interaction. EBioMedicine 58:102917, 2020.
  28. Berto S†, Mendizabal I†, Usui N†, Toriumi K†, Chatterjee P, Douglas C, Tamminga C, Preuss T, Yi SV, Konopka G. Accelerated evolution of oligodendrocytes in human brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 116(48):24334-24342, 2019.
  29. Mendizabal I†, Berto S†, Usui N†, Toriumi K†, Chatterjee P, Douglas C, Huh I, Jeong H, Layman T, Tamminga C, Preuss T, Konopka G, Yi SV. Cell-type specific epigenetic links to schizophrenia risk in the brain. Genome Biology 20(1):135, 2019.
  30. Tiong SYX, Oka Y, Sasaki T, Taniguchi M, Doi M, Akiyama H, Sato M. Kcnab1 Is Expressed in Subplate Neurons With Unilateral Long-Range Inter-Areal Projections. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy 13:39, 2019.
  31. Sugiura H†, Matsushita A†, Futaya M†, Teraoka A, Akiyama K, Usui N, Nagano N, Nitta K, Tsuchiya K. Fibroblast growth factor 23 is upregulated in the kidney in a chronic kidney disease rat model. PLoS One 13(3):e0191706, 2018.
  32. Fontenot M, Berto S, Liu Y, Werthmann C, Douglas C, Usui N, Gleason K, Tamminga C, Takahashi JS, Konopka G. Novel transcriptional networks regulated by CLOCK in human neurons. Genes & Development 31(21):2121-2135, 2017.
  33. Usui N, Araujo D, Kulkarni A, Co M, Ellegood J, Harper M, Toriumi K, Lerch JP, Konopka G. Foxp1 regulation of neonatal vocalizations via cortical development. Genes & Development 31(20):2039-2055, 2017.
  34. Escamilla CO†, Filonova I†, Walker AK, Xuan ZX, Holehonnur R, Espinosa F, Liu S, Thyme SB, Lopez-Garcia IA, Mendoza DB, Usui N, Ellegood J, Eisch AJ, Konopka G, Lerch J, Schier AF, Speed HE, Powell CM. Kctd13 deletion reduces synaptic transmission via increased RhoA. Nature 551(7679):227-231, 2017.
  35. Araujo D, Toriumi K, Escamilla CO, Kulkarni A, Anderson AG, Harper M, Usui N, Ellegood J, Lerch JP, Birnbaum S, Tucker HO, Powell C, Konopka G. Foxp1 in forebrain pyramidal neurons controls gene expression required for spatial learning and synaptic plasticity. Journal of Neuroscience 37(45):10917-10931, 2017.
  36. Usui N, Co M, Harper M, Rieger MA, Dougherty JD, Konopka G. Sumoylation of FOXP2 regulates motor function and vocal communication through Purkinje cell development. Biological Psychiatry 81(3):220-230, 2017.
  37. Hanners WN, Eitson LJ, Usui N, Richardson EB, Wexler ME, Konopka G, Schoggins WJ. Western Zika virus infection in human fetal neural progenitors persists long term with partial cytopathic and limited immunogenic effects. Cell Reports 15(11):2315-2322, 2016.
  38. Berto S, Usui N, Konopka G, Fogel BL. ELAVL2-regulated transcriptional and splicing networks in human neurons link neurodevelopment and autism. Human Molecular Genetics 25(12):2451-2464, 2016.
  39. Usui N, Watanabe K, Ono K, Tomita K, Tamamaki N, Ikenaka K, Takebayashi H. Role of motoneuron-derived neurotrophin 3 in survival and axonal projection of sensory neurons during neural circuit formation. Development 139(6):1125-1132, 2012.
  40. Takano H, Kondo M, Usui N, Usui T, Ohzeki H, Yamazaki R, Washioka M, Nakamura A, Hoshino T, Hakamata W, Beppu T, Ueda K. Involvement of CarA/LitR and CRP/FNR family transcriptional regulators in light-induced carotenoid production in Thermus thermophilus. Journal of Bacteriology 193(10):2451-2459, 2011.
  41. Takebayashi H†, Usui N†, Ono K, Ikenaka K. Tamoxifen modulates apoptosis in multiple modes of action in CreER mice. Genesis 46(12):775-781, 2008.