Creation of mesenchymal stem cells using transdifferentiation and undifferentiated induction by the transcription factor TWIST1

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09263
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: Mori Tatsufumi 近畿大学, ライフサイエンス研究所, 助手 (40760492)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 寺村 岳士 近畿大学, 大学病院, 准教授 (40460901) ; 竹原 俊幸 近畿大学, 大学病院, 助教 (60580561)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 間葉系幹細胞 / Twist1

Outline of Final Research Achievements

MSCs are somatic stem cells can isolated from various connective tissues such as bone marrow, fat, and synovial membrane. Because of its properties of cytokine secretion, multiple differentiation and niche formation, MSCs has been an attractive cell source for cell transplantation therapy. On the other hand, molecular mechanisms regulating stemness of the MSCs is largely unknown. Previous studies have implicated Twist1 as an important transcription factor involved in MSC stemness.
In this study, we elucidated the detailed regulatory mechanism of Twist1 and examined the effects of MSCs overexpressing Twist1 in vivo to elucidate the therapeutic effects in a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

MSCにおける重要な転写因子が明らかとなることで、新しい再生医療技術の開発や移植用細胞の評価法の開発につながる。また、本研究により細胞表面タンパクとしてLRRC15がTwist1と相関していることがわかった。これは今後の臨床応用において、より高品質で生存性の高いMSCの作製において非常に有用な情報となる。