Various studies using human iPS cell-derived melanocyte

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K08660
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53050:Dermatology-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University
• Principal Investigator: Kawakami Tamihiro 東北医科薬科大学, 医学部, 教授 (20297659)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: メラノサイト / 白斑 / 悪性黒色腫

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Adding Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor to the culture medium dramatically increased the yield of pure melanocytes. RT-qPCR analysis of vitiligo-derived primary melanocytes revealed significantly decreased mRNA levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) compared to normal melanocytes. In contrast, mRNA expression levels of stem cell factor (SCF) were significantly higher in co-culture of vitiligo-derived primary melanocytes and normal keratinocytes than in co-culture of normal melanocytes and normal keratinocyte. RT-qPCR analysis of melanocyte related adhesion molecules in vitiligo-derived primary melanocytes revealed significantly decreased mRNA levels compared to normal melanocytes. Based on these findings, we suggested that human primary melanocytes from non-depigmented skin in a patient with non-segmental vitiligo could be not normal melanocytes.

Free Research Field

皮膚科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、ヒトiPS細胞由来メラノサイトを使用して、白斑・悪性黒色腫など関連疾患を検討することである。ヒトiPS細胞をadvanced iDMMで培養することで、2週間で成熟ヒトメラノサイトが完成できる。この細胞を使用することで、白斑におけるメラノサイトの脆弱性や悪性黒色腫におけるメラノサイトの発癌性を解明できる。また、白斑治療では、欠損や機能不全になったメラノサイト病変部へ大量の良質メラノサイトを供給できる、悪性黒色腫治療では、患者本人からヒトiPS細胞由来メラノサイトを作成し、試験管レベルでどの免疫チェックポイント阻害薬がどの段階で有効かが把握でき、より適切な治療が確立できる。