Human iPSC-derived lung generation using in vitro vasculogenesis

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22666
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 55:Surgery of the organs maintaining homeostasis and related fields
• Research Institution: Yokohama City University
• Principal Investigator: TADOKORO Tomomi 横浜市立大学, 医学部, 助教 (20507644)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 肺オルガノイド / 血管 / 移植

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, lung progenitors were differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), and then lung organoids, which can recapitulate three-dimensional tissue structure, were generated from hiPSC-derived lung progenitors. To apply these organoids to regenerative medicine, it is important to get early access to blood supply. Therefore, we developed the vascularized lung organoids and the method for orthotropic transplantation of lung organoids. We could establish the technology for human lung tissue generation from hiPSCs, which is applicable to regenerative medicine. This technology is expected to apply to drug discovery and regenerative medicine for respiratory disorders in the future.

Free Research Field

幹細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究を通じ、ヒト人工多能性幹細胞(hiPSC)から３次元的な組織構造を模倣した肺オルガノイドを作製した。さらに、再生医療への応用を見据えた肺オルガノイドへの血管付与技術と肺への同所性移植法の開発を行った。肺へのオルガノイド同所性移植法に関しては、他の臓器と比較すると開発の遅れている部分であり、学術的にも価値のある研究開発である。また、肺オルガノイドへの血管付与は、移植効率の向上に加え、肺の主な働きである血中への酸素取り込みの向上も期待できる。本技術は、呼吸器疾患を対象とした創薬開発や再生医療への応用が期待される。