In vivo analysis by heterotopic transplantation of cultured nasal mucosal epithelial cells: Efforts for further development of regenerative medicine

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18785
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Jikei University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Morino Tsunetaro 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (00796352)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 再生医療 / 鼻腔粘膜上皮細胞シート / 細胞治療 / 組織工学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cell therapy using cultured epithelial cells has shown efficacy in various fields and is expected to dramatically improve the treatment of refractory diseases that have been difficult to treat. We have developed a treatment method to regenerate the middle ear mucosa by transplanting autologous cultured nasal mucosal epithelial cell sheets to the site of mucosal defect caused by middle ear surgery. Although good therapeutic effects have been obtained in preclinical animal studies and human clinical studies, the fate of cultured nasal mucosal epithelial cell sheets after autologous transplantation has not been clear. In this study, we transplanted nasal mucosal epithelial cell sheets derived from Tg-GFP rats subcutaneously into immunodeficient rats and analyzed the behavior of the cultured cells after transplantation, focusing on immunohistochemical changes.

Free Research Field

耳科学、再生医療

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、培養細胞の移植後の挙動を確実に評価できる皮下組織への異所移植を実施し、培養鼻粘膜上皮細胞の移植後の挙動を解析した。細胞ソースとして用いる鼻粘膜の採取には、耳鼻咽喉科領域の知識、技術を要するため、培養鼻粘膜上皮細胞の知見は耳鼻咽喉科医が中心となり発信する必要がある。耳鼻咽喉科発世界初の細胞治療として、本研究で培養鼻粘膜上皮細胞の移植効果を検証することで、再生医療の発展に貢献したいと考えている。