The 146th Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan (Osaka)

Organizer: Naoki Takemura (Grad. Sch. Pharm. Sci., UOsaka), Yoshiaki Okada (Grad. Sch. Pharm. Sci., UOsaka)

Biological barriers comprise multilayered defense systems formed through coordinated interactions, among immune cells, epithelial cells, and vascular endothelial cells. These barriers protect against external threats while limiting the spread of internally generated stress to maintain homeostasis. Beyond serving as physical obstacles, they function as sophisticated regulatory networks that orchestrate cellular communication through direct cell-cell contacts and soluble mediators. Disruption or dysregulation of biological barriers plays a central role in the pathogenesis of diverse diseases. Elucidating the mechanisms of barrier maintenance and breakdown is critical for understanding disease mechanisms and developing effective therapeutic interventions.
This symposium will present cutting-edge research on barrier dysfunction in allergic diseases, the diet-microbiota-immune axis in host defense, biomimetic barrier models for drug discovery, and blood-brain barrier modulation for brain disorder treatment. Through interdisciplinary dialogue, we aim to advance an integrative understanding of barrier biology and establish innovative therapeutic strategies.