Development of Muse cell therapy for dementia

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H03560
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 51030:Pathophysiologic neuroscience-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Niizuma Kuniyasu 東北大学, 医工学研究科, 教授 (10643330)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 冨永 悌二 東北大学, 大学病院, 教授 (00217548) ; Rashad Sherif 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 助教 (00824088) ; 坂田 洋之 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 非常勤講師 (80722305) ; 伊藤 明 東北大学, 大学病院, 助教 (90867863)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Muse細胞 / 幹細胞 / 認知症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The number of dementia patients is rapidly increasing, and a decline in the quality of life of patients and their families, as well as the cost of medical care and nursing care, are social issues. However, there is still no fundamental treatment for dementia. Multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells are non-tumorigenic endogenous pluripotent-like stem cells that are mobilized from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood and distribute to the connective tissue of organs. The purpose of this study was to utilize Muse cells　for the treatment of vascular dimentia. After inducing vascular dementia by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, the clinical-grade human-Muse cell-based product was intravenously administered. In the cell therapy group, an improvement in cognitive impairment, which was attributed to the suppression of hippocampal and white matter damage. Muse cell therapy could be a promising treatment for dementia with a social ripple effect.

Free Research Field

脳神経外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我々は過去に脳梗塞や脊髄損傷においてMuse細胞の治療効果を報告してきたが、今回、進行性の疾患である認知症に対する治療効果が示された。メカニズムとしては血管新生やアポトーシス抑制効果などが関与することが示唆されたが、更なる検証が必要である。Muse細胞治療により失われた認知機能を回復させることが出来れば、要介護者の減少、患者及び家族の生活の質の向上、医療費削減等、様々な領域に対する波及効果が得られると考えられ、社会的な意義は極めて大きいものと考えられる。