Treatment for skin sclerosis in systemic sclerosis by MSCs-derived exosome

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K08685
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53050:Dermatology-related
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: YOKOYAMA Yoko 群馬大学, 医学部, 技術専門職員 (00241901)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 茂木 精一郎 群馬大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 教授 (20420185)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 全身性強皮症 / 皮膚線維化 / 間葉系幹細胞 / エクソソーム / MFG-E8

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the possibility that exosomes secreted from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have an inhibitory effect on skin fibrosis in systemic scleroderma and that milk fat globule-EGF-factor 8 (MFG-E8), which exists on the membrane of MSCs, is involved in the mechanism of this effect.Experiments using mouse models of scleroderma and cultured fibroblasts showed that MSC-derived exosomes have an inhibitory effect on skin fibrosis. On the other hand, the present study did not clarify the involvement of MFG-E8 in the inhibition of fibrosis.This study suggests therapeutic application of MSC-derived exosomes for scleroderma skin sclerosis.

Free Research Field

皮膚科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

全身性強皮症は皮膚および内臓臓器の線維化、血管異常、免疫異常を特徴とする原因不明の自己免疫性疾患である。これまでに強皮症モデルマウス皮膚に対する間葉系幹細胞(MSC)の線維化抑制作用は多数報告されているが、幹細胞であるため生体内への注入などで治療に応用することは難しい。一方、エクソソームは細胞から分泌される膜小胞であり、今回、皮膚線維化への抑制作用が明らかになったことから、臨床への応用が期待できる。