Efficacy and Safety of stem cell sheet transplantation in a rat model of cerebral infarction.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17941
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56010:Neurosurgery-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Women's Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Arai Takashi 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 医療練士研修生 (10840077)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 脳梗塞 / 再生医療 / ラット / 脳波

Outline of Final Research Achievements

At our institution, we have already confirmed the efficacy of transplantation of cell sheets generated from mesenchymal stem cells in a rat model of cerebral infarction. We decided to further pursue the efficacy and confirm the safety of the transplanted cell sheets. For safety, we decided to evaluate whether transplanted cell sheets induce epileptic seizures by creating abnormal electrical circuits in the transplanted cells by measuring electroencephalography. Since it is already known that epileptic seizures are more likely to occur in Wister rats than in SD rats, we decided to use Wister rats in this experiment to confirm whether the cell sheet would be effective in Wister rats in addition to its previous efficacy in SD rats.

Free Research Field

脳神経外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

脳梗塞に対する治療は現代の標準的治療では回復は非常に困難であり後遺症が残存する可能性が非常に高い。脳梗塞後の後遺症は健康的な被害だけでなく、社会復帰を難しくさせ、さらには介助などが必要なことも珍しくなく家族などの周囲の人の負担も甚大である。脳神経細胞の再生能力は体の他の部位と比べると低いことが主な原因である。そこで我々は再生医療に着目した。再生医療により残存する神経機能的後遺症が少しでも軽減できれば、患者自身はもちろんのこと家族の普段だけでなく医療費なども含め社会全体にとっての負担が軽減すると考える。