Identification and analysis of pluripotent stem cells contained in urine fallen cells

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17272
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53040:Nephrology-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Uchida Nao 東北大学, 大学病院, 助教 (30771670)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 慢性腎臓病 / 再生医療 / 尿中落下細胞 / 幹細胞 / Muse細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We hypothesized that the urine of pediatric kidney disease patients contains stem cells that regenerate damaged kidney tissue. Urine specimens were provided by pediatric kidney disease patients, and cells fallen in the urine (Urine cells; UC) were cultured. ES cell-like clusters were formed on the adherent cells. These clusters contained cells positive for alkaline phosphatase, a marker for undifferentiated/stem cells, and cells positive for SSEA-3, a marker for pluripotent stem cells (Muse cells). Based on the above results, we assumed that stem cells were included in UC. Next, we performed SSEA-3 staining on the patient's kidney biopsy specimen. In some patient samples, cells that make up the glomerulus were positive for SSEA-3, suggesting that these stem cells may be repairing the glomerulus.

Free Research Field

腎臓学、小児科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

腎臓病は罹患頻度の高い疾患であり、末期腎不全患者は維持透析や腎移植が必要になる。これらの治療法は高い医療費や移植臓器の不足といった問題を抱えている。今回の研究は障害された腎臓を再生する幹細胞の存在、同定に迫るものであり、現在の腎不全治療の問題を再生医療によって解決する方法につながるものである。