Elucidation of the regulatory mechanism of pluripotency of umbilical cord-derived Muse cells and development of novel therapies for placental insufficiency

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07218
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 48010:Anatomy-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Kushida Yoshihiro 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 助教 (10707003)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Muse細胞 / 胎児付属物 / 臍帯

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To elucidate the characteristics and pluripotency regulatory mechanisms of umbilical cord-derived Muse cells as a novel cell source of Muse cells, which are non-tumorigenic pluripotent stem cells, we performed gene expression and DNA methylation analyses of umbilical cord-, bone marrow-, adipose- and skin-derived Muse cells. Comparison with human embryo data revealed that umbilical cord-derived Muse cells exhibit properties similar to those of post-implantation blastocysts. Furthermore, we identified the factor specifically expressed in umbilical cord-derived Muse cells that regulates pluripotency. It was found that umbilical cord-derived Muse cells have the ability to differentiate into not only triploblastic cells but also trophoblasts, germline, and hematopoietic cells. These results established the foundation for applications in the perinatal care and reproductive medicine.

Free Research Field

幹細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

生体組織に存在する腫瘍性を持たない多能性幹細胞であるMuse細胞は直接血管内や局所に投与するだけで、傷害組織へ遊走・集積し、組織に応じた細胞に自発的に分化して組織修復を行う。そのため、安全性と簡便性を併せ持つMuse細胞は細胞移植治療に適した細胞であると考えられている。本研究を通じて新規細胞ソースとして臍帯由来Muse細胞の多能性制御機構の解明と胚体外組織や生殖細胞系列への分化能を持つことが明らかになった。このことからMuse細胞は治験が行われている心筋梗塞や脳梗塞などの疾患に加え、周産期領域や生殖医学への応用が期待される。