Masatoshi Suzuki, DVM, PhD

Position title: Professor, Comparative Biosciences

DVM, Veterinary Medicine, The Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery, Japan
PhD, Veterinary Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan

Contact Information

4124 Vet Med
2015 Linden Dr
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: 608.262.4264
masatoshi.suzuki@wisc.edu
Suzuki Lab

Research Statement

Our long-term objective is to apply stem cell technology to expand integrative sciences in both basic and translational research. The current research focuses on elucidating mechanisms of brain development in mammals using stem cells and finding possible applications of these cells for neuromuscular disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and muscular dystrophy.

On the translational front, we are using human neural progenitor cells and mesenchymal stem cells as therapeutic applications for ALS. The overall aim of our current idea is to provide neurotrophic growth factor delivery using stem cells to spinal cord (i.e. cell body) and and/or the skeletal muscle (i.e. nerve terminals of motor neurons) to establish whether this can protect motor neurons from degeneration in a rat model of ALS.

Furthermore, we start a new research project to establish skeletal muscle stem cells (or called myogenic progenitors) using human embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. This project is a part of the first project finding the best cells to transplant into the muscle for ALS and also will bring new therapeutic applications to other muscle diseases such as muscular dystrophy.

Selected Publications

PubMed

Josvai, M., Polyak, E., Kalluri, M., Robertson, S., Crone, W. C., & Suzuki, M. (2024). An engineered in vitro model of the human myotendinous junction. Acta biomaterialia, S1742-7061(24)00180-6. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2024.04.007
Reilly, M., Robertson, S., & Suzuki, M. (2023). Sphere-Based Expansion of Myogenic Progenitors from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), 2640, 159–174. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3036-5_12
He, C., Kalafut, N. C., Sandoval, S. O., Risgaard, R., Sirois, C. L., Yang, C., Khullar, S., Suzuki, M., Huang, X., Chang, Q., Zhao, X., Sousa, A. M. M., & Wang, D. (2023). BOMA, a machine-learning framework for comparative gene expression analysis across brains and organoids. Cell reports methods, 3(2), 100409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100409
Lynch, E., Peek, E., Reilly, M., FitzGibbons, C., Robertson, S., & Suzuki, M. (2022). Current Progress in the Creation, Characterization, and Application of Human Stem Cell-derived in Vitro Neuromuscular Junction Models. Stem cell reviews and reports, 18(2), 768–780. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12015-021-10201-2
Tey, S. R., Mueller, M., Reilly, M., Switalski, C., Robertson, S., Sakanaka-Yokoyama, M., & Suzuki, M. (2022). Cell Surface Proteins for Enrichment and In Vitro Characterization of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Myogenic Progenitors. Stem cells international, 2022, 2735414. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2735414
Lynch, E. M., Robertson, S., FitzGibbons, C., Reilly, M., Switalski, C., Eckardt, A., Tey, S. R., Hayakawa, K., & Suzuki, M. (2021). Transcriptome analysis using patient iPSC-derived skeletal myocytes: Bet1L as a new molecule possibly linked to neuromuscular junction degeneration in ALS. Experimental neurology, 345, 113815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113815
Jiwlawat N, Lynch EM, Napiwocki BN, Stempien A, Ashton RS, Kamp TJ, Crone WC, Suzuki M. (2019). Micropatterned substrates with physiological stiffness promote cell maturation and Pompe disease phenotype in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived skeletal myocytes. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 116(9):2377-2392. doi: 10.1002/bit.27075.
Van Dyke JM, Smit-Oistad IM, Macrander C, Krakora D, Meyer MG, Suzuki M. (2016) Macrophage-mediated inflammation and glial response in the skeletal muscle of a rat model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Experimental Neurology. 277:275-82. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.01.008.
Lewis CM, Graves SA, Hernandez R, Valdovinos HF, Barnhart TE, Cai W, Meyerand ME, Nickles RJ, Suzuki M. (2015) ⁵²Mn production for PET/MRI tracking of human stem cells expressing divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1). Theranostics, 5(3), 227–239. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.10185
Van Dyke JM, Suzuki M. (2014) FGF-2: a critical factor for producing myogenic progenitors and skeletal muscle from pluripotent sources?. Regenerative Medicine. 9(4):405-7. doi: 10.2217/rme.14.34.
Bernau K, Lewis CM, Petelinsek AM, Benink HA, Zimprich CA, Meyerand ME, Suzuki M, Svendsen CN. (2014) In vivo tracking of human neural progenitor cells in the rat brain using bioluminescence imaging. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 15;228:67-78. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.03.005.
Hosoyama T, McGivern JV, Van Dyke JM, Ebert AD, Suzuki M. (2014) Derivation of myogenic progenitors directly from human pluripotent stem cells using a sphere-based culture. Stem Cells Translational Medicine. 3(5):564-74. doi: 10.5966/sctm.2013-0143.
Lewis CM, Suzuki M. (2014) Therapeutic applications of mesenchymal stem cells for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Stem Cell Research and Therapy. 5(2):32.
Nichols NL, Gowing G, Satriotomo I, Nashold LJ, Dale EA, Suzuki M, Avalos P, Mulcrone PL, McHugh J, Svendsen CN, Mitchell GS. (2013) Intermittent hypoxia and stem cell implants preserve breathing capacity in a rodent model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 1;187(5):535-42. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201206-1072OC.
Nichols NL, Van Dyke J, Nashold L, Satriotomo I, Suzuki M, Mitchell GS. (2013) Ventilatory control in ALS. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology. 1;189(2):429-37. doi: 10.1016/j.resp.2013.05.016.
Krakora D, Mulcrone P, Meyer M, Lewis C, Bernau K, Gowing G, Zimprich C, Aebischer P, Svendsen CN, Suzuki M. (2013) Synergistic effects of GDNF and VEGF on lifespan and disease progression in a familial ALS rat model. Molecular Therapy. Mol Ther. 2013 Aug;21(8):1602-10. doi: 10.1038/mt.2013.108.