Is the in vitro chondrogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells an indicator of their ability to repair cartilage tissue?

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18053
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University (2021-2022); The University of Tokyo (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Chijimatsu Ryota 岡山大学, 大学病院, 助教 (60803210)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 軟骨再生 / 間葉系幹細胞 / 滑膜幹細胞 / 脂肪幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the relationship between the chondrogenic differentiation ability of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and their ability to repair cartilage in vivo following local transplantation for the treatment of articular cartilage defects. Analysis of in vitro data revealed that the differentiation factors necessary for chondrogenesis vary depending on the tissue origin and animal species of the stem cells. Among these factors, the responsiveness to TGFb in vitro yielded the most similar results to the response observed in vivo after transplantation. These findings suggest that the efficacy of stem cells for cartilage repair can be evaluated in vitro, and thus may be useful for developing strategies for cartilage treatment.

Free Research Field

再生医療

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

関節軟骨欠損への間葉系幹細胞の局所移植治療において、幹細胞の軟骨分化能と軟骨治療効果との関連性が期待される一方で、幹細胞を未分化な状態で移植しても分化しないとする報告が増えてきており、幹細胞の軟骨細胞への分化能の意義を見直す必要があった。
本研究により、生体内で分化する細胞種と分化しない細胞種をvitroで判別する手法が確立できており、今後の軟骨治療に有用な知見を提供できた。