Development of artificial bone marrow graft using revitalized bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K08727
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 54010:Hematology and medical oncology-related
• Research Institution: Jichi Medical University (2023); The University of Tokyo (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Nakahara Fumio 自治医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (80581181)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 間葉系幹細胞 / 造血幹細胞 / 微小環境

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The investigator has created revitalized mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) that have regained the ability to maintain and proliferate hematopoietic stem cells in vitro by over expressing five genes in cultured bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Although rMSCs provide a very powerful platform for expanding hematopoietic stem cells in vitro, no engraftment was observed in vivo when rMSCs were transplanted into mice. Therefore, various genes were additionally over expressed in the rMSCs, and functions such as cell proliferation and survival ability were investigated, and multiple candidate genes were discovered. Eventually, they were able to create improved rMSCs by introducing a promising candidate gene.

Free Research Field

造血幹細胞学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

研究代表者は、培養骨髄間葉系幹細胞(MSC)に5つの遺伝子を強制発現することで、in vitroで造血幹細胞を維持・増殖させる能力を再び有するようになった再賦活化骨髄間葉系幹細胞 (rMSC)を開発し、報告した。さらに本研究により、再賦活化骨髄間葉系幹細胞 (rMSC)が生体内でも機能出来るように改良する方法の一つを見出すことが出来た。これにより、将来的に人工骨髄などを開発する際の重要なヒントを得られた。人工骨髄の開発は人類にとって造血器疾患治療の際に非常に有用かつ重要な治療手段となることから、本研究成果は高い学術的意義や社会的意義を有している。