Department of Regenerative Science and Medicine
Institute for Biomedical Sciences
Shinshu University
As stated in our message, our laboratory uses ES cells and iPS cells to elucidate the mechanisms of disease and develop new therapies. Our research technology specialties include the following:
-
Analysis and therapeutic development of diseased iPS cells fabricated from patients treated at Shinshu University Hospital
-
Gene repair, gene deletion, and generation of transgenic iPS cell lines by genome editing techniques
-
Pluripotent stem cell culture and differentiation into various somatic cells, including cardiomyocytes and skeletal muscle cells
-
In vivo studies in small animals (mice and rats), medium-sized animals (guinea pigs), and large animals (monkeys)
-
Genetic engineering and molecular biology experiments
-
Protein experiments such as immunostaining, flow cytometry, and western blot
Our research content is wide-ranging, and the possible research themes are infinite. The two main areas in which significant results have been produced are outlined below.
Development of Myocardial Regenerative Medicine for Heart Failure
The symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath and swelling caused by the inadequate performance of a heart that has been damaged by one of various heart diseases. In Japan, the number of patients with heart failure continues to increase; approximately 1.2 million people are estimated to have heart failure, which is higher than the total number of patients with cancer. In a typical disorder that causes heart failure, a myocardial infarction causes the myocardial cells in the heart to die and be replaced with noncontractile fibrous tissue (Fig. 1). Once necrotic, the heart cannot regenerate itself with current therapies and continues to produce a weakened contractile force throughout life, leading to heart failure. One way to replenish cardiomyocytes at the site of myocardial infarction is by using pluripotent stem cells. Although ES cells and iPS cells differ in origin, they have nearly identical properties and are capable of differentiating into a variety of cells, including cardiomyocytes (Fig. 2). In our laboratory, we produce myocardial cells from pluripotent stem cells and transplant them into various animal myocardial infarction disease models, such as rats and monkeys, in order to develop novel myocardial regeneration therapies (Fig. 3).
Our research results have been published in such esteemed publications as the British Scientific Journal, Nature, and others, thus establishing our laboratories as world-famous for regenerative medicine research.
