Identification of bona fide totipotent cells using lipid droplets as markers and establishment of a long-term culture method

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K20663
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0702:Biology at cellular to organismal levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Furuta Asuka 長浜バイオ大学, バイオサイエンス学部, 助手 (10906647)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ES細胞 / iPS細胞 / MuERV-L陽性細胞 / Zscan4陽性細胞 / 全能性細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

ES and iPS cells are pluripotent stem cells that have the ability to differentiate into all somatic and germ cells, but it has been believed that they cannot differentiate into extra-embryonic cells, such as the placenta. However, it has recently been revealed that ES cells contain totipotent cells (2-cell-like cells) that can differentiate not only into somatic cells and germ cells but also into extraembryonic tissues, although at a low rate. In addition, we previously have shown that 2-cell-like cells contain a cell population with lipid droplets. In this study, we found that gene expression differs significantly between 2-cell-like cells with fat droplets and 2-cell-like cells without fat droplets.

Free Research Field

幹細胞

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、全能性を有するMuERV-L陽性細胞（2細胞期様細胞）には、脂肪滴を有する細胞と脂肪滴を持たない細胞が存在することを明らかにした。また、これらの細胞では、明確に遺伝子発現が異なることを明らかにした。今後、これらの細胞の分化能を検討することにより、脂肪滴の有無と分化能の関係が明らかになることが期待できる。また、最近ヒトにおいても全能性細胞が同定されたことから、本研究の成果は、ヒトの全能性細胞の研究にも展開できる可能性が高い。