Establishment of method to induce differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into stria vascularis marginal cells in inner ear

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K24038
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0906:Surgery related to the biological and sensory functions and related fields
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Saegusa Chika 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 共同研究員 (00280800)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 内耳 / 血管条 / 辺縁細胞 / iPS細胞 / 難聴 / 上皮細胞 / タイトジャンクション / カリウムチャネル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Marginal cells in stria vascularis of inner ear play indispensable roles in maintaining homeostasis in cochlea. We have established the method to induce the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into marginal cell-like cells (iMC). Differentiation of iMCs from hiPSCs are induced by three-dimensional (3D)-stepwise method. This is the first report of the successful method to induce the differentiation of hiPSCs into iMCs. iMCs are useful for the analysis of the mechanisms of hearing loss and drug screening, and will contribute to develop novel therapies for hearing loss.

Free Research Field

耳科学・細胞生物学・幹細胞学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究においては内耳蝸牛内ホメオスタシス維持に重要である血管条辺縁細胞をヒトiPS細胞から分化誘導する系を構築した。新規内耳細胞様細胞分化誘導系として特許を申請している。induced marginal cells(iMC）は内在辺縁細胞と同様にタイトジャンクションタンパク質やチャネルタンパク質を発現していることから、ヒト難聴の病態解析や難聴に対する治療薬・保護薬の探索に応用可能であり、iMCを用いることで今後難聴研究が大きく進むと期待できる。