Investigation of the diversity of metabolic pathways affecting stemness in mesenchymal stem cells

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K08257
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52050:Embryonic medicine and pediatrics-related
• Research Institution: Shimane University
• Principal Investigator: Taketani Takeshi 島根大学, 学術研究院医学・看護学系, 教授 (30359880)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 間葉系幹細胞 / タウリン / 低ホスファターゼ症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated whether the diversity of metabolic pathways in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) affects the stemness of MSCs. First, metabolomic analysis of MSCs divided into three groups (high, medium, and low stemness) revealed that the three groups share each common metabolic profile. And we identified a predominant change in specific amino acids involved in the TCA cycle when we combined with gene expression analysis. Next, metabolomic analysis of MSCs with hypophosphatasia (HPP), one of the congenital skeletal diseases, demonstrated that taurine decreased. Addition of taurine enhanced self-renewal and adipogenic differentiation capacity.

Free Research Field

小児科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

今回の研究において、正常な間葉系幹細胞だけでなく、骨系統疾患の１つである低ホスファターゼ症の間葉系幹細胞において、代謝プロファイルの違いから幹細胞としてのstemnessに関与する代謝産物を同定できたことは、先天性骨系統疾患だけでなく健常人が加齢により生じる疾患（骨粗鬆症など）に対する代謝産物を用いた治療が期待される結果を示すことができた。