Development of novel lung regeneration therapy for intractable respiratory diseases using adipose stem cells and iPS cells

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09163
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55040:Respiratory surgery-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Fukui Eriko 大阪大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 助教 (90814591)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 脂肪組織由来幹細胞 / 慢性閉塞性肺疾患 / 細胞移植治療 / 肺胞上皮細胞 / 肺再生

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an irreversible, chronic, progressive lung disease for which there is no curative treatment and the development of new regenerative medicine is desired. In this study, we yyinvestigated ADSCs supplementation therapy for COPD, in which adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are differentiated into alveolar epithelial cells to regenerate alveoli. Gene expression analysis of mouse lungs was performed, and genes that were highly expressed in COPD mice and improved by ADSCs administration were identified. Furthermore, we are analyzing human COPD lungs comprehensively and focusing on genes that match those highly expressed in COPD model mice to analyze the repair mechanism of ADSCs-injured lungs.

Free Research Field

呼吸器外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

慢性閉塞性肺疾患 (COPD)などの難治性呼吸器疾患は年々著しく増加している。
肺移植以外の根治的な治療法は確立されておらず、予後不良であり新たな治療法の開発が喫緊の課題である。現在の幹細胞治療ではパラクラン効果が主な作用であり、このような非可逆的な肺胞破壊を伴う難治性呼吸器疾患に対しては治療効果に限界がある。本研究では幹細胞自身が肺胞細胞へ分化する可能性を示し、COPDに対する根治的な肺胞再生治療の可能性を示した。また障害肺におけるマウスとヒトの共通遺伝子に注目することでヒトへの効果やメカニズムをより詳細に検討できる。