Development of hard tissue regeneration method using neural crest-derived stem cells

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18612
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57050:Prosthodontics-related
• Research Institution: Showa University
• Principal Investigator: Urano Eri 昭和大学, 歯学部, 助教 (20756225)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 神経堤由来細胞 / 骨芽細胞 / ケラチノサイト / 再生 / 創傷治癒

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Healing progress was observed in palatal wound healing model mice in which neural crest-derived cells were labeled with EGFP. Two days after wounding, new mucosa containing neural crest-derived cells was observed, and on the 28th day, the entire wound was covered with new mucosa. Neural crest-derived cells of the new mucosa expressed stem cell and keratinocyte markers. The palatal mucosal cells before culture contained about 40% neural crest-derived cells, but when cultured in the medium for stem cells, they proliferated to about 90%. Approximately 70% of them expressed stem cell markers and these cells differentiated into keratinocytes and osteoblasts. Neural crest-derived stem cells exist in the palate, and they are thought to differentiate into keratinocytes during the wound healing process to promote regeneration of the palatal mucosa.

Free Research Field

補綴歯学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

口蓋は菲薄な粘膜が骨組織に結合した神経堤由来の組織であり、唇顎口蓋裂治療
の口蓋形成術等に伴う創傷治癒過程では、神経堤由来細胞が重要な役割を担うと予想されるが、詳細は不明である。本研究ではマウスの口蓋創傷治癒過程における神経堤由来細胞の役割を解析し、口蓋には神経堤由来幹細胞が存在し、それらが創傷治癒過程でケラチノサイトに分化することで口蓋粘膜再生が進行することが考えられた。以上から神経堤由来細胞は口腔内の創傷治癒過程においても重要な役割を担うことが示唆された。