Development of a novel cell therapy for fetal growth restriction

• Project/Area Number: 17K16297
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Embryonic/Neonatal medicine
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Ito Miharu 名古屋大学, 医学系研究科, 特任助教 (60570083)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
• Keywords: 胎児発育不全 / 幹細胞 / 神経発達障害 / 細胞療法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study is to develop a novel treatment for neurological disability in fetal growth restriction using Muse cells (multi-lineage differentiating stress enduring cells).
In this study, an ameroid constricter (AC) was used to produce a reproducible novel FGR model. The FGR model showed motor and cognitive deficits, and these deficits were ameliorated by treatment with muse cells. However, the effect was not enough in nonMuse cells treatment.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

FGRの重要な問題点として神経発達障害があるが、それに対し予防法や治療法はない。本研究では、Muse細胞に着目し新規治療法の開発を試みた。Muse細胞を投与することにより、FGRモデルに認めた運動障害、認知障害が改善した本研究の結果は、これまで治療法がなかったFGR神経発達障害に対して大きなインパクトを与えると思われる。