Realization of vascular regenerative medicine using peripheral white blood cells

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K19468
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 52:General internal medicine and related fields
• Research Institution: Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe
• Principal Investigator: Ogawa Yuko 公益財団法人神戸医療産業都市推進機構, その他部局等, 研究員 (00454497)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 造血幹細胞 / 末梢血白血球 / 細胞治療 / 虚血性疾患

Outline of Final Research Achievements

From the results of non-clinical and clinical studies, it is clear that hematopoietic stem cells have a remarkable pro-angiogenic effect. We demonstrated previously that direct cell-cell interaction between transplanted hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and energy-deficient endothelial cells via gap junction is the mechanism of promoting angiogenesis for HSCs. It is not necessary for the treatment mechanism of HSCs to engraft or differentiation. That is, stem cells are not necessarily required for blood vessel repair/regeneration ability. We wondered if it would be possible to use blood cells in circulating peripheral blood as a novel cell source. However, there are large individual differences in peripheral blood cells, and it was not possible to find conditions for obtaining uniform results. Therefore, we focused on CD34 positive cells in circulating peripheral blood and clarified their ability to regenerate and repair blood vessels when administered to stroke model mice.

Free Research Field

幹細胞治療学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

献血により採取した血液中に含まれるCD34陽性細胞に関しては、これまで殆ど研究されていない。その理由として、血中における含有率が低く、造血能および幹細胞としての分化・増殖能がほとんど認められないことが挙げられる。しかし、今回の結果から末梢血中のCD34陽性細胞も再生医療用の細胞ソースとして利用できることが明らかになった。末梢血中のCD34陽性細胞を用いた再生医療は、他の幹細胞治療と比し圧倒的に安価で、発展性も極めて高い。すなわち、本研究で得られた成果は医療経済面でも非常に有意義な課題であるといえる。