Development of a novel method for Induction of Fetal Immunological Tolerance using Maternal microchymerism

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K09228
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Endo Masayuki 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 教授 (30644794)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 玉井 克人 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 寄附講座教授 (20236730)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 胎児 / 免疫寛容 / マイクロキメリズム / 間葉系幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The phenomenon of cell migration from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy is called maternal-microchimerism. This mechanism has been shown to cause a certain percentage of children to develop an immunological tolerance to cells of maternal origin. In this case, the child does not reject maternally derived cell transplants or proteins specific to the mother. In this study, we sought to increase the efficiency of induction of immune tolerance against maternal derived protein. By administering the mesenchymal stem cell mobilization factor, HMGB1, to pregnant mice, we hoped that more mesenchymal stem cells would be transferred from the maternal blood to the fetus. As a result, we were able to increase the efficiency of immune tolerance induction by about 4-fold.

Free Research Field

出生前診断　胎児治療

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

母親由来細胞やタンパク質に対して免疫寛容があると、その子供は母親由来の細胞移植や、母親に特異的なタンパク質に対して拒絶反応を起こしません。
もし、子供に特殊な疾患があって、細胞移植治療や臓器移植、あるいはタンパク質補充療法などの治療が必要な場合、通常であれば免疫抑制剤を使用したり、治療前に化学療法や放射線療法などで骨髄抑制をする必要があります。しかし、免疫寛容が誘導されていれば、そのような処置も必要なく治療することが可能になります。