Professor Masayuki Takamura, Associate Professor Soichiro Usui from Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical, ,Kanazawa University （Department of Cardiovascular Medicine), Professor Vivian Hwa from Osaka University (PRIMe), and Otone Inoue and Assistant Professor Juan Gurmaches from the University of Cincinnati, USA, have succeeded in identifying a group of angiogenic cells with potential therapeutic applications from single cell analysis of human stem cell sources.
Regenerative medicine using stem cells that can be harvested from patients themselves has been attracting attention as a novel treatment for refractory cardiovascular diseases such as critical limb ischemia (※1) and ischemic heart disease (※2), which are difficult to treat even with catheterization and surgery. However, it was unclear which cell fraction (subset) of the extremely diverse stem cell population would be truly effective in treatment.
This research team of Kanazawa University and the University of Cincinnati has found that adipose tissue stem cells (※3) positive for the surface antigen CD271 have extremely high angiogenic (※4) potential through single cell analysis of stem cell sources (bone marrow, subcutaneous fat, cord blood) available in humans and xenograft experiments using immunodeficient mice.
In addition, we have conducted a detailed study to determine from which patients the CD271-positive stem cell subset can be successfully harvested and why it has such high angiogenic potential.
These findings are expected to be utilized in the future for ischemic cardiovascular diseases for which conventional therapies are ineffective.
The results of this research were published online in Cell Reports Medicineon December 20, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. (JST) and appeared on the cover of the December issue.
Stem cells derived from adipose tissue have higher angiogenic potential than those from bone marrow or umbilical cord.
CD271-positive cells in adipose tissue have excellent angiogenic gene profiling.
CD271-positive cell counts are reduced in donors with high insulin resistance.
Cellular therapy using CD271-positive cell cells for critical limb ischemia shows excellent therapeutic efficacy.
Figure: Schematic diagram of this study
Novel cell therapy for critical limb ischemia requires the identification of a cell population with strong angiogenic potential and easy cell harvesting. In this study, we demonstrated that mesenchymal progenitor cells expressing CD271 in human subcutaneous adipose tissue have strong angiogenic potential and are promising as a novel therapeutic strategy for critical limb ischemia.
【Glossary】
※1: Critical ischemic limb
This is the most severe form of arteriosclerosis obliterans, in which arteries become narrowed or clogged due to arteriosclerosis, causing impaired circulation in the lower limbs.
※2: Ischemic heart disease
Ischemic heart disease is a disease that causes narrowing (angina pectoris) or blockage (myocardial infarction) of the coronary arteries, resulting in impaired blood flow.
※3: Adipose tissue stem cells
Adipose tissue stem cells are stem cells collected from adipose tissue, and are believed to have the ability to differentiate into various types of cells such as osteoblasts, adipocytes, muscle cells, and cartilage cells.
※4: Angiogenesis
The creation of new blood vessels from existing vessels in order to obtain oxygen and nutrients necessary for tissue maintenance and growth.
Click here to see the press release【Japanese only】
Journal：Cell Reports Medicine
Researcher's Information: Masayuki TAKAMURA
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