Development of novel therapies for intractable kidney diseases using iPS cell-derived immune regulatory cells

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K23962
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0902:General internal medicine and related fields
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Akihito 名古屋大学, 医学部附属病院, 病院助教 (20846290)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 人工多能性幹細胞 / 難治性腎疾患 / 間葉系幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have been studying the induction of immune regulatory cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) to investigate their therapeutic efficacy on animal models of kidney diseases. As a result, we were able to induce MSCs from human iPS cells. We also established animal models (mice and rats) for kidney diseases, and established protocols for administering the induced MSCs and evaluating their therapeutic effects. Although it is necessary to compare and validate the results with multiple cell lines, we have shown the possibility of establishing a new therapeutic method using MSCs derived from human iPS cells for intractable kidney diseases.

Free Research Field

腎臓内科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

今回我々は、腎疾患領域における、ヒト人工多能性幹細胞(iPS細胞)を用いた新規治療法開発の可能性について検討してきた。当教室ではこれまで間葉系幹細胞(MSC)を用いた新規治療法の開発に注力してきた。しかし、MSCは採取できる量に限界があったり、均一的な性質や効果を示すとは限らず、また継代を重ねることで“細胞的老化”を示すとされてきた。今回の我々の研究では、iPS細胞からMSCを誘導することで、これまでのMSC治療の問題点を克服することにつながると考えられた。さらにiPS細胞は治療効果を高める工夫も追加しやすく、難治性腎疾患の新規治療法開発につながることが期待される。