For the first time in the world, a research group led by Professor Ryuichi Okamoto of the Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical & Dental University, performed treatment to transplant "mini-organs" cultured from the intestinal tissue of patients with intractable ulcerative colitis.We will continue to follow up after transplantation, but it is expected to pave the way for the practical application of organoid medicine using mini-organs.
According to Tokyo Medical & Dental University, the research group cultured tissues collected from the intestines of patients with ulcerative colitis, created mini-organs called organoids that reproduced the structure and function of epithelial cells in the intestines, and transplanted them into the rectum of the patients. ..In experiments using mice, transplantation restored bowel function.The patient was discharged after the transplant.
Ulcerative colitis is an intractable disease that causes chronic inflammation of the digestive system, and it is estimated that there are more than 22 patients nationwide.To control the symptoms, the mucosal epithelium of the intestine damaged by inflammation must be repaired and regenerated, but it is said that there are about 1 intractable patients who cannot be expected to be effective with conventional treatments such as immunomodulators and steroids. ..
The transplanted mini-organ has a structure and function similar to that of an organ in which cells are three-dimensionally gathered.Tokyo Medical & Dental University will transplant it to seven other patients to verify its effectiveness, as well as for other intractable digestive diseases such as Crohn's disease, which causes chronic inflammation of the mucous membranes of the small and large intestines. Aiming for application.In the world, research on mini-organ transplantation is progressing in other organs such as the liver.
