Development of new therapy using mesenchymal stem cells for exacerbation of COPD

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K16062
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Respiratory organ internal medicine
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Asami Takahiro 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 共同研究員 (50623865)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 間葉系幹細胞 / 肺炎球菌 / COPD増悪

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be exacerbated by bacterial or viral infections. COPD exacerbation is considered to be the main cause of death from COPD, but the detailed mechanism of the disease state is unknown. The cause of COPD exacerbation is pneumococcal infection. At present, antibiotics, steroids, and bronchodilators are used, but they are not sufficient, and new treatment is required.
First, we created a pneumococcal infection model mouse, and obtained the result which indicated the control of the inflammation of the pneumonia by the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) administration. MSC administration effect will be examined for the pneumococcus pulmonary emphysema model in future.

Free Research Field

呼吸器内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

感染症および感染により悪化する病態は、これまで抗菌薬治療が主に用いられたきた。しかし抗菌薬治療だけでは十分な効果が得られない場合があり、この原因には宿主（ヒト）の要因として、自らの免疫応答が強くなりすぎたり、不十分であることが考えられる。本研究では肺炎球菌感染の過剰な炎症をMSCの投与により抑制できたことを示唆している。抗菌薬治療で軽快が困難だった病態が、間葉系幹細胞の投与により予後が改善する可能性がある。