In vitro fabrication of nerve-like tissue using dental pulp stem cells

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K17075
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57040:Regenerative dentistry and dental engineering-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Katata Chihiro 大阪大学, 大学院歯学研究科, 招へい教員 (20876677)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 再生歯学 / 組織工学 / 細胞集合体 / オルガノイド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to fabricate the nerve-like tissue from scaffold-free three-dimensional (3D) constructs composed only of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs).
It was revealed that the expression of neuronal differentiation markers increased in DPSCs constituting 3D cell construct by culturing with neuronal differentiation medium. In addition, nerve-related proteins were produced in 3D cell constructs by neuronal differentiation. Histological and electrophysiological analyses demonstrated that differentiated DPSCs in the 3D cell construct expressed voltage-dependent ion channels.
The results obtained in this study indicated that neuronal differentiated-DPSCs construct could be used as a novel biomaterial for nerve regeneration.

Free Research Field

歯学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究において、スキャフォールドフリーで機能的な神経様組織をin vitroで創製する技術の確立に成功した。
本研究のように、移植可能なサイズの神経様組織をin vitroで作製する手法に関して、類似する研究例は国内外をみても存在せず、本研究成果のもつ学術的意義は大きい。本研究で確立した幹細胞を基材として神経様組織を形成する技術は、脊髄や四肢の外傷性損傷の治療に用いる生体材料に応用可能であり、本研究の成果は神経再生医療分野において重要な知見であると考えられる。