A research team led by Associate Professor Satoshi Yamazaki of the University of Tokyo, in collaboration with Stanford University and the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, realized the amplification of hematopoietic stem cells that suppressed cell senescence at low cost by using polyvinyl alcohol, which is the main component of liquid glue. ..It is expected to make a great contribution to basic research in the field of stem cells and cost reduction of stem cell therapy.
Hematopoietic stem cells are tissue stem cells that can supply all blood cells for a lifetime.It is an essential cell for bone marrow transplantation (hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) when eradicating blood diseases, but the number of donors is decreasing due to the aging society.The research team was developing technology to increase hematopoietic stem cells in vitro.
From studies using mouse hematopoietic stem cells, the research team found that bovine serum components, purified albumin (a protein that accounts for 60% of serum), and recombinant albumin inhibit the stable undifferentiated nature of hematopoietic stem cells in cell culture. I found out that.However, the problem is that cell division of hematopoietic stem cells cannot be induced unless a protein such as albumin is added to the culture medium.
This time, the research team found that polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which is the main component of liquid glue, replaces expensive serum components and albumin, and unlike serum components and albumin, it is cultured for several months while maintaining the undifferentiated state of hematopoietic stem cells. I made it clear that I could do it.This is the first report in the world that hematopoietic stem cells can be amplified and cultured for more than a month in an undifferentiated state.It has been shown that if one hematopoietic stem cell can be isolated and collected from a donor by this technique, it may be possible to treat multiple patients.
This discovery is expected to be applicable to human hematopoietic stem cells, and it is possible to provide safe hematopoietic stem cell transplantation that reduces the risk of complications of transplantation treatment mainly for pediatric hematopoietic stem cells.It is also expected to be applied to stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine, and to reduce medical costs.
Paper information:[Nature] Long-term ex vivo hematopoietic stem cell expansion allows nonconditioned transplantation
