Development of Combined Bone and Cartilage Regenerative Medicine Using Adipose-Derived Pluripotent Cells and Porous Carbonate Apatite

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19199
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: KAMATA KUMIKO 徳島大学, 病院, 助教 (60836469)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 軟骨再生 / DFAT / 顎関節

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Regeneration of the lost temporomandibular joint due to an oral cancer treatment is very important for restoration of mastication and swallowing functions. However, currently, metal plates are the main method for the reconstruction, and it is not sufficient to restore the function. This study is a basic research to regenerate the lost TMJ function by inducing adipose stem cells from adipose tissue, which can be easily obtained from the oral cavity, to differentiate into cartilage and bone. In this study, we demonstrated that adipose stem cells can be induced to differentiate into chondrocytes by harvesting adipose tissue and culturing them in a cartilage induction medium. Spheroid formation is considered to be important for three-dimensional regeneration of cartilage tissue, but in this study, it was difficult to form spheroids that were stable in size and could withstand long-term culture.

Free Research Field

外科系歯学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

口腔癌治療で失われた顎関節の再生は咀嚼や嚥下機能の回復に非常に重要である。しかしながら現在は金属プレートなどによる再建法が主で機能の回復が十分とは言えない。本研究は失われた顎関節の再生のため、口腔内から簡便に採取できる脂肪組織から脂肪幹細胞を採取し、軟骨や骨に分化誘導することで顎関節機能の再生をおこなうための基礎的研究である。脂肪組織から採取した脂肪幹細胞は軟骨誘導培地で軟骨細胞への分化が簡便に行えることが分かった。脂肪細胞は関節の再生で最も困難である軟骨組織の再生にむけて有用な幹細胞のソースとなることが示された。