tists have recognized the potential of PSCs in regenerative medicine. However, a major concern has been the development of tumors following PSC transplantation. To address this issue, researchers conducted extensive experiments and discovered that the membrane protein EPHA2 plays a crucial role in both stem cell function and tumor formation after PSC transplantation. These findings have the potential to improve the safety and practicality of stem cell-based therapies.
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are a type of stem cells capable of developing into various cell types. Over the past few decades, scientists have recognized the potential of PSCs in regenerative medicine. However, a major concern has been the development of tumors following PSC transplantation. To address this issue, researchers conducted extensive experiments and discovered that the membrane protein EPHA2 plays a crucial role in both stem cell function and tumor formation after PSC transplantation. These findings have the potential to improve the safety and practicality of stem cell-based therapies.
Scientists have been focusing on creating treatments using PSCs because of their special ability to renew and transform into almost any type of tissue. This could be used for repairing organs that have been permanently damaged by age, injury, or illness. However, there are still many challenges to overcome in regenerative therapies involving PSCs. One of these challenges is the development of tumors after the transplantation of PSCs, which is known as tumorigenesis. Once the PSCs transform into a specific type for stem cell therapy, there is a high risk of tumor formation.After introducing differentiated stem cells to the target organ, it is important for the success of PSC-based therapies to minimize the risk of tumor formation by identifying potentially problematic cells in cultures before transplantation. A research team led by Atsushi Intoh and Akira Kurisaki from Nara Institute of Science and Technology in Japan has made a recent breakthrough discovery in stem cell therapy and tumor formation. Intoh states, “Our findings offer advancements that could connect stem cell research and clinical application.” This highlights the potential of their research.The study, which was published in Stem Cells Translational Medicine, focused on EPHA2, a membrane protein that was previously found to be elevated in PSCs before differentiation. Researchers conducted experiments on both mouse and human stem cell cultures to understand the role of EPHA2 in maintaining the potency of PSCs to develop into various cell types. They discovered that EPHA2 in stem cells is co-expressed with OCT4, a transcription factor protein that controls the expression of genes crucial for the differentiation of embryonic stem cells.It was found that when the EPHA2 gene was removed from the cells, the cultured stem cells started to differentiate on their own. This indicates that EPHA2 is crucial in maintaining stem cells in an undifferentiated state. The researchers suggested that EPHA2-expressing stem cells, which are unable to differentiate, could be linked to tumor formation when transplanted into the target organ. To test this theory, the researchers created PSC cultures and promoted their differentiation into liver cells. They then used a magnetic antibody that targets EPHA2 to extract EPHA2-positive cells from a group of cul.The study involved growing human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) in cultures before transplanting them into mice. The researchers found that when the EPHA2 protein was removed from the cultures, the formation of tumors in the mice receiving the transplants was significantly reduced.
These findings suggest that EPHA2 plays a crucial role in stem cell-based therapies. Dr. Kurisaki commented, “EPHA2 has clearly emerged as a potential marker for identifying undifferentiated stem cells, providing a valuable tool for reducing the risk of tumor development after stem cell transplantation in regenerative treatments.”
Further research on EPHA2 could lead to the development of safer protocols for using PSCs. Fortunately, this could help make stem cell therapies safer and more effective.However, these discoveries are a step towards a future where we will be able to effectively repair damaged organs and even overcome degenerative conditions.
