Development of regeneration therapy using stem cells derived from spinal cord injury

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17946
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56010:Neurosurgery-related
• Research Institution: Hyogo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Kuramoto Yoji 兵庫医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (10604275)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 脊髄損傷 / 傷害誘導性多能性幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have been studying cerebral ischemic pluripotent stem cells induced by cerebral ischemia. And, in response to the academic question of whether they can be induced from central nervous systems other than the cerebrum and cerebellum, we have now asked whether they can be induced from a traumatic injury such as spinal cord injury. In this study, we attempted to induce the pluripotent stem cells from the spinal cord, a tissue other than the brain, and succeeded in isolating cells similar to cerebral ischemic pluripotent stem cells using a mouse model. This demonstrated that pluripotent stem cells can be induced at the site of injury regardless of the type of injury, such as ischemia or trauma. In order to investigate the dynamics of pluripotent stem cells in humans, we are currently attempting to isolate and culture cells from human cerebral hemorrhage sites as a similar model, since spinal cord injury sites are rarely removed in clinical settings.

Free Research Field

Neurosurgery

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

中枢神経系において、様々な疾患・部位でダメージを受けた際にその修復や保護のため、多能性幹細胞を誘導されていることを証明した。一方、間葉系幹細胞を投与することにより、その傷害が軽減することが知られている。我々が発見した傷害誘導性多能性幹細胞は少なくとも様々な分化能を有しており、損傷部位で賦活化ができれば、症状軽減につながる可能性がある。いまのところは特異的な表面マーカーを複数発見できたため、これを元にさらなる解析が期待される。