・Grafts and immunosuppressive cells were prepared from ES cells for use in regenerative medicine.

・Rejection reaction was successfully suppressed by pretreatment with ES cell derived immunosuppressive cells before graft implantation.

・A method to overcome issues predicted in the future regenerative medicine using ES cells and iPS cells is proposed

Pluripotent stem cells such as ES cells and iPS cells can be differentiated into various types of cells and their application in regenerative medicine is highly expected. When organs and cells are transplanted from another person, rejection occurs due to the body’s immune activity and they are discharged from the body. To avoid rejection, it is important to suppress the immune system. This also applies to the transplantation of cells and tissues derived from pluripotent stem cells.

Special research student Hiroya Kudo, Lecturer Haruka Wada, and Professor Ken-ichiro Seino of the Division of Immunobiology, Institute for Genetic Medicine proposed and verified an immunological suppression method necessary for future regenerative medicine which uses cells and tissues derived from pluripotent stem cells in medical transplantation. The research group prepared two kinds of cells derived from mouse ES cells: cells (grafts) for use in regenerative medicine and cells which can suppress the immune system. The group then developed a method to suppress the rejection reaction in transplants from one body to another. By implanting immunosuppressive cells prior to graft implantation from one mouse to another, the group succeeded in extending the period of engraftment (the length of time when the graft could remain in-vivo without rejection).

Ken-ichiro Seino, Professor, Division of Immunobiology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University

TEL: +81-11-706-5531

FAX: +81-11-706-7545

E-mail: seino@igm.hokudai.ac.jp