2024-07-07 07:23:21
These are the first cardiomyocyte (cardiac muscle cell) sheets derived from allogeneic iPS cells to treat humans.
with: Katherine Ardila
July 07, 2024
Osaka University researchers, led by Professor Emeritus Yoshiki Sawa, developed it as a promising breakthrough for regenerative medicine. children regenerative from pluripotent stem cells. This technological innovation offers a revolutionary choice of transplant of heart for patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Ischemic cardiomyopathy, characterized by narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heartaffects 220 thousand people every year in Mexico alone, with a mortality rate of 78%.
Los children Sawa and his team use regenerative technology that incorporates multiple stem cells, which can transform different cells or tissues into different types. These cells, affect the muscle tissue heartfacilitating its regeneration and improving cardiac pumping function.
The use of these children presented as a viable alternative to transplant of heart or to implant ventricular assist devices. With the expectation that commercialization will begin within three years, these will be the estimated initial cost children It is 86 thousand euros, subject to regulations by the Japanese Government.
How do these stem cells develop?
So far, the children Eight Japanese patients have been successfully tested, results described as “promising” by the scientific community. This development is particularly significant for Japan, a country with a shortage of organ donors. If approved for use, Japan would be the first to commercialize this regenerative technology for the heart.
The concept of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2012, thanks to the discoveries of Shinya Yamanaka. iPS cells, which can be reprogrammed to proliferate, have been proven effective in pig trials. Inspired by this work, Sawa began conducting clinical trials on humans, establishing his team as pioneers in this technology.
Collaborations and the future
PorMedTec and eGenesis, biotechnology companies dedicated to the genetic modification of pigs for organ transplants, reported that in 2023 only 3% of people in need of transplant They were able to get it. Sawa’s innovation could significantly increase this figure, providing another effective solution.
On a recent visit to the Osaka laboratory, Sawa demonstrated the children in culture dishes, emphasizing its potential to save life. With the 2025 Osaka World Expo on the horizon, it is expected that the “heart iPS” will be one of the main exhibits, envisioning a future where biotechnology and regenerative medicine offer new hope to patients around the world.
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