Development of Novel Generation of Nutritional Environmental Risk Assessment System Using Human iPS Cells

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H02154
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Shiraki Nobuaki 東京工業大学, 生命理工学院, 准教授 (70448520)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 賈 慧娟 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 特任准教授 (60456324)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: DOHaD / iPS細胞 / アミノ酸 / 膵臓 / 糖尿病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using iPS cells that mimic human development, we aimed to construct a stem cell-based nutritional environment risk assessment battery to quantitatively evaluate the effects of nutrient overload and deficiency on organ formation and function. Using human iPS cells, we found that limiting just one amino acid during pancreatic differentiation inhibits differentiation into pancreatic beta cells, which are insulin-secreting organs. These findings may be the main reason for the risk of offspring developing diabetes due to inadequate caloric intake by the mother. Furthermore, using pregnant mice, we found that restricting a single amino acid for a very limited period causes abnormal glucose metabolism in the pups. These results indicate that the differentiation system of human iPS cells can be used to fully assess the risk of external nutritional environment during fetal life.

Free Research Field

幹細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で開発したヒトiPS細胞分化系を用いた栄養環境リスク評価系とマウスを用いた検証手法を利用することで、胎生期の至適栄養環境を探ると共に糖尿病発症リスクを軽減する栄養介入法を見出すことが可能となり、健康寿命延伸研究を進める上での有用なツールとなる。