About

Kyoko Yoshida is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on the interface of mechanics and biology, particularly in understanding how soft tissues grow, remodel, and adapt during pregnancy. She leads the Pregnancy Research & Engineering Group, which aims to understand the interactions between hormonal and mechanical signaling that drive pregnancy processes. Her work involves using experimental and computational approaches from biomechanics and systems biology to study the growth and remodeling of the heart and uterus during pregnancy. The ultimate goal of her research is to reduce the rates of heart problems during pregnancy and preterm birth by developing new therapies for pregnancy-related complications.

Research topics

• Biology
• Medicine
• Computer Science
• Internal medicine
• Endocrinology
• Materials science
• Pathology
• Mechanics
• Physics
• Cancer research
• Cardiology
• Bioinformatics

Selected publications

• Cardiac remodeling in chronic hypertension during murine pregnancy

  Physiology · 2025-05-01

  article

  Chronic hypertension affects 3-5% of pregnancies, presenting a combination of pressure and volume overload with opposing effects on cardiac function [1]. However, the influence of these competing forces on cardiac remodeling in hypertensive pregnancy remains unclear. Using a murine model, we aimed to characterize cardiac remodeling, hypothesizing that pregnancy may counteract hypertension-related declines in cardiac function. Nulliparous female C57Bl6/J mice (10-13 weeks old) were implanted with 42-day mini-osmotic pumps (Azlet Durect) loaded with angiotensin II (1000 ng/kg/min) to induce hypertension. Animals were randomly assigned into hypertensive control (AngII, n=7) and hypertensive pregnancy (AngII+Preg, n=5) groups. We collected tail-cuff blood pressure, and 2D and 4D high-frequency ultrasound (MX550D, 40 MHz center frequency, Vevo3100, VisualSonics) images of the left ventricle at baseline, 14 days after pump implantation, gestational (e) days 6.5, 12.5, 15.5, 18.5, and on postpartum (p) day 1. Statistical significance was assessed by two-way ANOVA ( p <0.05). Ejection fraction was maintained across both animal groups throughout the experimental timeline. Stroke volume (SV), however, decreased in the AngII group and increased in the AngII+Preg group compared to baseline, and by gestational day (e) 15 was significantly higher in the AngII+Preg group (30.4 ± 7.4 uL vs. 21.5± 6.1 uL, AngII+Preg vs. AngII). Similar to SV, cardiac output decreased in the AngII group and increased the AngII+Preg group (12.0 ± 3.6 uL vs. 16.3 ± 4.3 uL, AngII vs AngII+Preg, eday 15). Excised heart mass was greater in the AngII group at 190.7 ± 21.1 mg compared to 158.0 ± 10.7mg in the AngII+Preg group on pday 1. These results suggest that adaptations during pregnancy may alter cardiac remodeling in the settings of hypertension. Ongoing histology and 4D strain mapping may be helpful to further identify related changes in tissue geometry and biomechanics. Findings from this work could provide insight into the pathophysiology of chronic hypertension in pregnancy and set the foundation for future efforts in identifying patient risk factors, ultimately improving standard of care for both mother and child. [1] Lawler, et al., Hypertens Pregnancy. 2007. This abstract was presented at the American Physiology Summit 2025 and is only available in HTML format. There is no downloadable file or PDF version. The Physiology editorial board was not involved in the peer review process.

  PublisherDOI

• The influence of lactation on postpartum murine heart growth

  Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology · 2025-11-01 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Computational model captures cardiac growth in hypertensive pregnancies and in the postpartum period

  American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology · 2024-04-26 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Our multiscale model predicts appropriate heart growth beyond normal pregnancy, including elevated heart weights in rats with induced hypertension during pregnancy and in lactating mice and decreased heart weight in nonlactating mice. Our model captures distinct mechanisms that result in similar organ-level growth, highlighting its potential to distinguish healthy from diseased pregnancy-induced growth.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Bioengineering and the cervix: The past, current, and future for addressing preterm birth

  Current Research in Physiology · 2023-01-01 · 5 citations

  reviewOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  The uterine cervix plays two important but opposing roles during pregnancy - as a mechanical barrier that maintains the fetus for nine months and as a compliant structure that dilates to allow for the delivery of a baby. In some pregnancies, however, the cervix softens and dilates prematurely, leading to preterm birth. Bioengineers have addressed and continue to address the lack of reduction in preterm birth rates by developing novel technologies to diagnose, prevent, and understand premature cervical remodeling. This article highlights these existing and emerging technologies and concludes with open areas of research related to the cervix and preterm birth that bioengineers are currently well-positioned to address.

  PublisherDOI

• Estimations of the global prevalence and clinical burden of occult hepatitis B infection (OBI): a systematic review and meta-analysis

  Journal of Hepatology · 2022-07-01 · 1 citations

  review
  PublisherDOI

• Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Directly Regulates VTCN1 Gene Expression in MCF-7 Cells

  Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin · 2022-05-31 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates the toxicity of dioxins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Recent studies have suggested that AhR is involved in cancer immunity. In the present study, we examined whether AhR regulates the expression of immune checkpoint genes in breast cancer cells. We discovered that the mRNA expression of V-set domain containing T cell activation inhibitor 1 (VTCN1) that negatively regulates T cell immunity was upregulated by AhR agonists in breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and T47D. Furthermore, AhR knockout or knockdown experiments clearly demonstrated that upregulation of VTCN1 gene expression by 3-methylcholanthrene was AhR dependent. Luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that this upregulation of VTCN1 gene expression was induced by the recruitment of AhR to the AhR responsive element in the VTCN1 gene promoter in MCF-7 cells. Taken together, AhR directly regulates VTCN1 gene expression in MCF-7 cells.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Characterizing the Biomechanical and Biochemical Properties of Mouse Uterine Tissue

  Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal · 2022-03-29 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  For a successful pregnancy, the uterus and the cervix work together as a biomechanical structure to protect the fetus until term. During gestation, typically 37 weeks, the uterus undergoes a growth transformation to accommodate the growing fetus and to prepare for labor. This uterine growth is characterized by an increase of its wet weight, elastin content, and collagen content. Then at parturition, the uterus must contract while the cervix ripens and dilates to allow the passage of the fetus. The transformation mentioned above is believed to be responsible for the contractions, and any deviations from the expected biochemical transformation put both the mother and baby in danger. The goals of this study are to quantify and compare the biochemical and biomechanical properties of uterine tissue from normal and abnormal mouse models of pregnancy. This study utilizes Anthrax toxin receptor 2 knock-out mice (Antxr2 -/-), which exhibit an accumulation of collagen in the cervix and uterus as a result of a defect in the maintenance of their extracellular matrix (ECM). Uterine tissues from nonpregnant Antxr2 -/- and non-pregnant wild type mice (Antxr2 +/+) were tested. Tissue samples were tested for collagen content, collagen crosslink strength (i.e. collagen extractability) and were subjected to tensile mechanical testing. Results from the biochemical assays revealed that the Antxr2 -/- uterine samples had significantly higher levels of collagen. It was also revealed that collagen extractability was region-dependent. Lastly, mechanical testing proved that Antxr2 -/- uterine tissue is mechanically stronger than Antxr2 +/+ (peak stress 0.078 MPa and 0.04 MPa). This study presents one of the first attempts to correlate the biochemical makeup of the uterus to its biomechanical properties.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Multiscale model of heart growth during pregnancy: integrating mechanical and hormonal signaling

  Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology · 2022-06-06 · 22 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• A low peripheral perfusion index can accurately detect prolonged capillary refill time during general anesthesia

  Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia · 2022-12-22 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  Background: Capillary refill time (CRT) is the gold standard for evaluating peripheral organ perfusion; however, intraoperative CRT measurement is rarely used because it cannot be conducted continuously, and it is difficult to perform during general anesthesia. The peripheral perfusion index (PI) is another noninvasive method for evaluating peripheral perfusion. The PI can easily and continuously evaluate peripheral perfusion and could be an alternative to CRT for use during general anesthesia. This study aimed to determine the cutoff PI value for low peripheral perfusion status (prolonged CRT) by exploring the relationship between CRT and the PI during general anesthesia. Methods: We enrolled 127 surgical patients. CRT and the PI were measured in a hemodynamically stable state during general anesthesia. A CRT >3 s indicated a low perfusion status. Results: = -0.706). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve generated for the PI was 0.989 (95% confidence interval, 0.976-1.0). The cutoff PI value for detecting a prolonged CRT was 1.8. Conclusion: A PI <1.8 could accurately predict a low perfusion status during general anesthesia in the operating room. A PI <1.8 could be used to alert the possibility of a low perfusion status in the operating room. Trial Registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000043707; retrospectively registered on March 22, 2021, https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno = R000049905).

  PublisherDOI

• Adipocytes contribute to tumor progression and invasion of peritoneal metastasis by interacting with gastric cancer cells as cancer associated fibroblasts

  Cancer Reports · 2022 · 28 citations

  • Cancer research
  • Biology
  • Pathology

  BACKGROUND: Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is one of the most common causes of noncurative surgery and the most frequent recurrence pattern in gastric cancer (GC). During the process of PM, GC cells detached from primary tumor interact with human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) overlapped with adipose tissues such as the omentum or mesentery. Although the interaction with HPMC promotes the malignancy of GC, the role of adipose tissues remains unclear. AIMS: We aimed to clarify how adipose tissue are affected by adjacent primary tumors during the expression of adipokines and to elucidate whether GC cells transform adipocytes into CAFs in vitro. In addition, we investigated whether GC cells are affected by adipocytes in their ability to infiltrate. METHODS: We investigated the phenotypic conversion of adipocytes during the malignant process of GC cells in vivo and in vitro. We evaluated the expression levels of adiponectin in the omental adipose tissue of gastric cancer patients by western blotting. Following adipocytes/gastric cancer cells coculture, adipocyte markers, adiponectin receptors, and inflammatory cytokine markers were detected by real-time PCR and/or western blotting in the single-cultured and co-cultured adipocytes; cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) markers were detected by immunofluorescence and western blotting in the single-cultured and co-cultured adipocytes; invasion assays were performed in single cultured and co-cultured MKN45 and OCUM. RESULTS: In omental adipose tissues that are situated close to the primary tumors, the expression of adiponectin tended to decrease in patients with subserosal or serosal invasion. By co-culturing with GC cells, adipocytes were dedifferentiated and the expression levels of CAF marker FSP1 and inflammatory cytokines, PAI-1 and IL-6, significantly increased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, GC cells co-cultured with adipocytes showed enhanced invasion ability. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the phenotypic conversion of adipocytes may promote the malignancy of GC in the construction of the cancer microenvironment of PM.

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Frequent coauthors

• Kristin M. Myers

  Columbia University

  20 shared

• Ronald J. Wapner

  New York Genome Center

  17 shared

• Joy Vink

  Hawaii Pacific Health

  15 shared

• Jan Kitajewski

  University of Illinois Chicago

  9 shared

• Cande V. Ananth

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  7 shared

• Hongfeng Jiang

  Guangxi University of Science and Technology

  6 shared

• Mala Mahendroo

  6 shared

• Michael Fernandez

  California Polytechnic State University

  6 shared

Labs

• Tissue Mechanics LaboratoryPI

Education

• Ph.D. , Mechanical Engineering

  Columbia University

  2016

• M.S. , Mechanical Engineering

  Columbia University

  2010

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

  University of Notre Dame

  2008