Yojiro Kato

Publications (3)20.68 Total impact

• Article: Early steroid withdrawal protocol with basiliximab, cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil in renal-transplant recipients.

  Yojiro Kato, Tamotsu Tojimbara, Kazuhiro Iwadoh, Ichiro Koyama, Koji Nanmoku, Kotaro Kai, Akihito Sannomiya, Ichiro Nakajima, Shohei Fuchinoue, Satoshi Teraoka
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  ABSTRACT: Adverse effects of steroids have led to efforts to minimize their use in recipients of organ transplants. This study evaluated an early steroid withdrawal protocol including basiliximab, cyclosporine (CsA) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in renal-transplant recipients. Between January 2001 and April 2005, our early steroid withdrawal protocol was used in 130 patients who underwent renal transplantation. Immunosuppression consisted of CsA (6-8 mg/kg), MMF (2 g/kg) and methylprednisolone (MP); basiliximab was given as induction therapy (steroid withdrawal group). MP was administered in a dose of 500 mg or 250 mg at renal transplantation; thereafter, the dose was rapidly tapered and MP was withdrawn on day 14 post-transplant. The incidence of acute rejection in the steroid withdrawal group was similar to that in the conventional steroid treatment group (without basiliximab) (18% vs. 21%). The severity of rejection episodes was similar in the two groups. Patient and graft survivals were 100% and 97% in the steroid withdrawal group. In 80 of the 130 patients (62%) in the steroid withdrawal group, MP was successfully withdrawn, with good allograft function during follow-up. In the other 50 patients (38%), MP was reinitiated because of acute rejection or other reasons. The success rate of steroid withdrawal 12 months after transplantation in recipients of ABO-compatible grafts was significantly higher than that in recipients of ABO-incompatible grafts (66% vs. 44%). The dose of MMF during the 12 months after renal transplantation was significantly lower in steroid reinitiated group than in the successful withdrawn group (p<0.05). Patients in the successful withdrawn group showed metabolic benefits such as lower cholesterol levels as compared with the steroid reinitiated group. Although further follow-up is necessary to confirm our results, our protocol successfully permitted the early withdrawal of steroids in 62% of renal-transplant recipients, with no resumption of steroid treatment during 3 years of follow-up.
  International Immunopharmacology 12/2006; 6(13-14):1984-92. · 2.38 Impact Factor
• Article: Renal allograft rejection is prevented by adoptive transfer of anergic T cells in nonhuman primates.

  Hisashi Bashuda, Masaaki Kimikawa, Kenichiro Seino, Yojiro Kato, Fumiko Ono, Akira Shimizu, Hideo Yagita, Satoshi Teraoka, Ko Okumura
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  ABSTRACT: Anergic T cells generated ex vivo are reported to have immunosuppressive effects in vitro and in vivo. Here, we tested this concept in nonhuman primates. Alloreactive T cells were rendered anergic ex vivo by coculture with donor alloantigen in the presence of anti-CD80/CD86 mAbs before adoptive transfer via renal allograft to rhesus monkey recipients. The recipients were briefly treated with cyclophosphamide and cyclosporine A during the preparation of the anergic cells. Thirteen days after renal transplantation, the anergic T cells were transferred to the recipient, after which no further immunosuppressive agents were administered. Rejection-free survival was prolonged in all treated recipients, and 3 of 6 animals survived long term (410-880 days at study's end). In the long-surviving recipients, proliferative responses against alloantigen were inhibited in a donor-specific manner, and donor-type, but not third-party, skin allografts were also accepted, which demonstrated that antigen-specific tolerance had been induced. We conclude that anergic T cells generated ex vivo by blocking CD28/B7 costimulation can suppress renal allograft rejection after adoptive transfer in nonhuman primates. This strategy may be applicable to the design of safe clinical trials in humans.
  Journal of Clinical Investigation 08/2005; 115(7):1896-902. · 15.39 Impact Factor
• Article: Living related liver transplantation for polycystic liver disease.

  Ichiro Koyama, Shohei Fuchinoue, Yoshinori Urashima, Yojiro Kato, Kazuhiko Tsuji, Tomonori Kawase, Toru Murakami, Tamotsu Tojimbara, Ichiro Nakajima, Satoshi Teraoka
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  ABSTRACT: Polycystic liver disease (PCLD) is a rare inherited disorder, often associated with polycystic disease of the kidney. Although liver failure is unusual, some patients suffer from hepatic enlargement associated with severe complications such as abdominal distention, cachexia and dyspnea. Until recently, many surgical attempts had been made to reduce hepatic size, however, results have been unsatisfactory [3, 9, 10]. Today, liver transplantation is recommended as a therapeutic option, and excellent outcome has been demonstrated [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11]. In this paper, we present the first case study of total hepatectomy and partial liver transplantation for PCLD, from a living, related donor. The patient is a 38-year-old man with PCLD who underwent living related liver transplantation (LRLT). He is alive and well 21 months after the operation, with complete resolution of the symptoms. He has returned to his previous job, with a marked improvement in his quality of life. Our experience demonstrates that LRLT can be an option for treatment of PCLD.
  Transplant International 12/2002; 15(11):578-80. · 2.92 Impact Factor