Treatment of cancer by a new BMT method using co-transplantation of regenerated thymus

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26460498
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Experimental pathology
• Research Institution: Kansai Medical University
• Principal Investigator: HOSAKA Naoki 関西医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (30388459)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 胸腺 / 再生 / T細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have developed a new bone marrow transplantation (BMT) method, BMT with thymus transplantation. Although it is effective on cancer, it requires a regenerated thymus graft. We investigated the functions of thymic epithelial cells (TEC) induced from murine induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells using the method reported previously. The ability to produce T cells was analyzed using a co-culture system of TEC with hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Some experiments were carried out in the presence of cytokines (IL-2 and IL-7). HSC did not proliferate well in the absence of TEC. However, they proliferated in the presence of TEC, and addition of the cytokines showed more induction. Although precursors of T cells were observed, we found little expression of the mature T cells markers, CD4 and CD8. We need a further searching to regenerate thymus graft using iPS cells.

Free Research Field

病理学、免疫学