Human induced pluripotent stem cells (human iPS cells) have pluripotency that can theoretically differentiate into all cell types that make up the body. Realization is expected.However, it is difficult to induce differentiation of all human iPS cells into target cells, and cells that cause tumor formation remain among the cells that could not be differentiated.This has become a major issue in the realization of regenerative medicine in various fields.

　This time, the collaborative research group found that fatty acid synthesis is active in human iPS cells.Therefore, when fatty acid synthesis was inhibited using the obesity treatment drug orlistat (US FDA approval), the proliferation of human iPS cells was stopped and the cells died.In addition, the drug does not affect the survival of not only myocardial cells differentiated from human iPS cells but also nerve cells and hepatocytes, and undifferentiated iPS cells and myocardial cells differentiated from human iPS cells have not been cultured together. Only differentiated iPS cells were selectively removed.Furthermore, even when undifferentiated iPS cells were transplanted into mice, no tumor formation was observed in the orlistat-administered group.

　As a result, a method has been established in which only undifferentiated iPS cells that cause tumor formation are killed, and only differentiated cells such as cardiomyocytes and nerve cells differentiated from human iPS cells are selected alive.It is expected that the major problem of producing highly safe cells for transplantation will be solved, and the realization of regenerative medicine in other fields as well as cardiac regenerative medicine will be promoted.

Paper information:[IScience] Fatty Acid Synthesis Is Indispensable for Survival of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells