Immunotherapy with genetically modified iPS cell-derived macrophages against melenoma

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25870545
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Dermatology; Immunology
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: FUKUSHIMA Satoshi 熊本大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (50398210)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 悪性黒色腫 / 免疫療法 / 細胞治療 / iPS細胞 / マクロファージ / 腫瘍マーカー / microRNA / 腫瘍抗原

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed immune cell therapy using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. In this study, the efficacy of human iPS cell-derived macrophages (iPS-MP) genetically modified to express type I IFNs against human melanoma cells was examined. The iPS-ML expressing type I IFNs increased the expression of CD169, a marker of M1 macrophages that can activate antitumor immunity. The overexpression of type I IFNs in the iPS-ML enhanced the inhibitory effects against the disseminated human melanoma cells in SCID mice.
We also found FOXM1 as a new therapeutic target of melanoma. Furthermore, we identified that hair shaft levels of microRNA-221 could be a non-invasive diagnostic tool for melanoma.

Free Research Field

悪性黒色腫