Functional analysis and application of hematopoietic stem cells to chemicals that replacement for albumin function

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H03707
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 54010:Hematology and medical oncology-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Yamazaki Satoshi 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 教授 (50625580)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 造血幹細胞 / アルブミン / PVA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

By replacing the albumin protein, which was essential for the culture of hematopoietic stem cells, with the chemical bolivinyl alcohol (PVA), he succeeded in achieving a significant proliferation system for long-term hematopoietic stem cell culture, which had a great impact both in Japan and overseas. (Wilkinson et al., 2019). This discovery is the beginning of one research, and it can be expected that there are unknown substances other than PVA that can substitute for albumin protein. Based on the research and experience up to the present, the applicant has determined which substances are effective as substitutes for albumin, and that even very minute changes in the chemical formula can change the properties of hematopoietic stem cells and prevent the cell division and undifferentiation of hematopoietic stem cells. We recognize that maintenance plays an important role.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これらの研究は血液/免疫研究分野にとどまらず幹細胞研究や細胞培養学など様々な研究分野へ貢献したと考えている、さらには、化学分野と生物もしくは医学分野の大きな架け橋となる可能性を秘めている。実際に、本研究成果はヒト造血幹細胞の増幅を可能にし（Sakurai et al., Nature 2023）。組織幹細胞においても多能性幹細胞と同等のゲノム編集効率を実現した（Becker et al., 2023 in press）これらの研究は今研究課題独自のものであり独創性や創造性に関しても高いレベルにあり国内外の位置付けとしても先端的基礎研究になり得た。