Identification of novel MSCs with hematopoiesis supporting capacity

• Project/Area Number: 15K15366
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Hematology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Hosokawa Kentaro 九州大学, 医学研究院, 助教 (90569584)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,640,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥840,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
• Keywords: 造血幹細胞 / 間葉系幹細胞 / ニッチ / 骨芽細胞 / 骨内膜 / シングルセル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We found a subpopulation of osteoblast fraction (AL+) derived from endosteum by single cell gene expression analysis. This sub-fraction highly expressed hematopoietic niche factors and specifically expressed alpha8-integrin (Itga8). To clarify the characteristics of Itga8+AL+ cells, we compared gene expression profiles of Itga8+AL+ cells with known bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells derived from endocardium, and it was found that expression pattern of Itga8+AL+ cells was not included in either. Analysis of the in vitro culture system showed Itga8+AL+ cells had highly differentiation ability and proliferation potential. Although AL+ fraction has been recognized as a population of osteoblast, these results suggest that AL+ fraction contains mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells expressing Itga8 with different character from BM MSCs.