Open AccessSelective Ablation of Tumorigenic Cells Following Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell‐Derived Neural Stem/Progenitor Cell Transplantation in Spinal Cord Injury
Author(s) -
Kojima Kota,
Miyoshi Hiroyuki,
Nagoshi Narihito,
Kohyama Jun,
Itakura Go,
Kawabata Soya,
Ozaki Masahiro,
Iida Tsuyoshi,
Sugai Keiko,
Ito Shuhei,
Fukuzawa Ryuji,
Yasutake Kaori,
RenaultMihara Francois,
Shibata Shinsuke,
Matsumoto Morio,
Nakamura Masaya,
Okano Hideyuki
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
stem cells translational medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.781
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 2157-6580
pISSN - 2157-6564
DOI - 10.1002/sctm.18-0096
Subject(s) - stem cell , transplantation , induced pluripotent stem cell , neural stem cell , progenitor cell , carcinogenesis , biology , cancer research , spinal cord injury , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , medicine , spinal cord , neuroscience , cancer , embryonic stem cell , genetics , gene
Abstract Tumorigenesis is an important problem that needs to be addressed in the field of human stem/progenitor cell transplantation for the treatment of subacute spinal cord injury (SCI). When certain “tumorigenic” cell lines are transplanted into the spinal cord of SCI mice model, there is initial improvement of motor function, followed by abrupt deterioration secondary to the effect of tumor growth. A significant proportion of the transplanted cells remains undifferentiated after transplantation and is thought to increase the risk of tumorigenesis. In this study, using lentiviral vectors, we introduced the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSVtk) gene into a human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived neural stem/progenitor cell (hiPSC‐NS/PC) line that is known to undergo tumorigenic transformation. Such approach enables selective ablation of the immature proliferating cells and thereby prevents subsequent tumor formation. In vitro, the HSVtk system successfully ablated the immature proliferative neural cells while preserving mature postmitotic neuronal cells. Similar results were observed in vivo following transplantation into the injured spinal cords of immune‐deficient (nonobese diabetic–severe combined immune‐deficient) mice. Ablation of the proliferating cells exerted a protective effect on the motor function which was regained after transplantation, simultaneously defending the spinal cord from the harmful tumor growth. These results suggest a potentially promising role of suicide genes in opposing tumorigenesis during stem cell therapy. This system allows both preventing and treating tumorigenesis following hiPSC‐NS/PC transplantation without sacrificing the improved motor function. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2019;8:260&270