Development of a new cell therapy system by optic control of cellular functions

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26670573
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General surgery
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Haga Sanae 北海道大学, 保健科学研究院, 特任講師 (60706505)
• Research Collaborator: OZAKI Michitaka ; MORITA Naoki
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 光イメージング / 細胞生存 / 細胞療法 / 移植

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the present study, we tried to develop a new cell therapy system by using light-sensitive proteins to control cellular functions especially for cell survival.Akt is a key molecule for cell survival and protection against various stresses in many types of cells. Therefore, we developed the newly designed photo-activatable probe to control positively cellular Akt function (PA-Akt probe). PA-Akt which we made enabled cytosolic Akt to move to cell membrane by light illumination. With illumination blue light, PA-Akt successfully induced the activation (phosphorylation) of Akt and the downstream signals including GSK-3beta in hepatocytes. As a result, it conferred resistance hepatocytes against various stresses including oxidative stress and malnutrition.
Our cellular control system utilizing light-sensitive protein may provide a unique tool for the development of new therapies especially in the field of cell/organ transplantation.

Free Research Field

分子生物学、肝臓病態学、ストレス応答、臓器・細胞移植