日本研究人員8月8日在美國《國家科學(xué)院院刊》（PNAS）網(wǎng)絡(luò)版上發(fā)表論文說,，他們在人耳中發(fā)現(xiàn)了可發(fā)育為軟骨的干細(xì)胞,。
橫濱市立大學(xué)教授谷口英樹率領(lǐng)的研究小組，在對小耳癥患者切除的耳軟骨進(jìn)行分析時發(fā)現(xiàn),，覆蓋耳軟骨的膜中存在一種特殊細(xì)胞,，這一細(xì)胞具有發(fā)育為軟骨等組織的干細(xì)胞性質(zhì)。
研究人員成功在試管中將這種軟骨干細(xì)胞培育為成熟軟骨細(xì)胞,，然后將其移植到實驗鼠背部皮膚上,，最后形成了軟骨。這種再生軟骨在實驗鼠身上維持了約10個月,。
研究小組認(rèn)為,，利用這一成果，今后在治療鼻骨骨折,、面部骨折等面部變形時,，有望從患者耳中采集軟骨干細(xì)胞，進(jìn)行軟骨細(xì)胞培養(yǎng)并移植到患者的腹部皮下脂肪,，等軟骨細(xì)胞發(fā)育成一定程度大小的軟骨后,，移植到患部。
研究人員計劃在獲得日本厚生勞動省批準(zhǔn)后,，最早明年開始臨床研究,。(生物谷 Bioon.com)
doi:10.1073/pnas.1109767108
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Reconstruction of human elastic cartilage by a CD44+ CD90+ stem cell in the ear perichondrium
Kobayashi, Shinji; Takebe, Takanori; Inui, Midori; Iwai, Sayaka; Kan, Hiroomi; Zheng, Yun-Wen; Maegawa, Jiro; Taniguchi, Hideki
Despite the great demands for treating craniofacial injuries or abnormalities, effective treatments are currently lacking.One promising approach involves human elastic cartilage reconstruction using autologous stem/progenitor populations. Nevertheless,definitive evidence of the presence of stem cells in human auricular cartilage remains to be established. Here, we demonstratethat human auricular perichondrium, which can be obtained via a minimally invasive approach, harbors a unique cell population,termed as cartilage stem/progenitor cells (CSPCs). The clonogenic progeny of a single CD44+ CD90+ CSPC displays a number of features characteristic of stem cells. Highly chondrogenic CSPCs were shown to reconstruct large(>2 cm) elastic cartilage after extended expansion and differentiation. CSPC-derived cartilage was encapsulated by a perichondriumlayer, which contains a CD44+ CD90+ self-renewing stem/progenitor population and was maintained without calcification or tumor formation even after 10 mo. Thisis a unique report demonstrating the presence of stem cells in auricular cartilage. Utilization of CSPCs will provide a promisingreconstructive material for treating craniofacial defects with successful long-term tissue restoration.
