Development of mass production technology for pancreatic islet cells

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K19915
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 90:Biomedical engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Hasegawa Kouichi 京都大学, 高等研究院, 特定拠点講師 (50378890)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-06-29 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 膵島細胞 / 分化誘導 / 多能性幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to treat pancreatic tissue disorders such as chronic pancreatitis, type I diabetes, and excision of pancreatic cancer tissue, production of large amounts of high-quality (homogeneous and functional) islet cells is highly desired. In this study, we challenged technological innovation for mass production of high-quality islet cells from human ES / iPS cells. We have developed a novel antibody capable of monitoring human pancreas development in embryos and induction from human ES/iPS cells. We have also established a reporter human ES cell line in which GFP was inserted under the insulin promoter so that differentiation and maturation of pancreatic islet cells could be monitored. Using these monitoring tool, we succeeded in optimizing islet differentiation in our three-dimensional culture system using polymers such as gellan gum and methyl cellulose. We are further working on expanding this system and transferring to a closed culture system.

Free Research Field

幹細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、ラボレベルと実用レベルのギャップを埋めるハイデマンドの挑戦的・探索的橋渡し研究です。本研究で得られた膵島細胞の３次元スフェア誘導法がさらに発展し、均一なヒトES/iPS細胞由来の膵島細胞が閉鎖系で大量に産生可能となれば、膵島移植治療が加速できると予測されます。