Department of Orthopedics, Keio University School of Medicine

We have been conducting translation research on treatment of spinal cord injury in close cooperation with the Department of Physiology. Over the past four-year period, this research has yielded various findings. We shall continue our best efforts to facilitate this research with the goal of establishing valid means of treatment for patients with spinal cord injury.

Rat fetus-derived neural stem cell implantation for the treatment of rats with spinal cord injury

We have demonstrated the effectiveness of rat fetus-derived neural stem cell implantation in the treatment of incomplete injury of the cervical segment of the rat spinal cord. Implantation of the neural stem cells resulted in successful take (survival) of the implanted cells and their differentiation into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, good resumption of forelimb motor function was also noted.

Other Researchs

Development of a common marmoset model of spinal cord injury and human neural stem cell implantation
Treatment of spinal cord injury by activating endogenous stem cells
Treatment of spinal cord injury by a combination of neural stem cell implantation and other methods

Publication

Ogawa Y, Sawamoto K, Miyata T, Miyao S, Watanabe M, Nakamura M, Bregman BS, Koike M, Uchiyama Y, Toyama Y, Okano H.: Transplantation of in vitro-expanded fetal neural progenitor cells results in neurogenesis and functional recovery after spinal cord contusion injury in adult rats. J. Neurosci.Res. 69, 925-933 (2002)

Watanabe K, Nakamura M, Iwanami A, Fujita Y, Kanemura Y, Toyama Y and Okano H: Comparison between fetal spinal cord-and forebrain-derived neural stem/progenitor cells as a source of transplantation for spinal cord injury. Dev. Neurosci. 26: 275-287(2004)

Iwanami A, Ogawa Y, Nakamura M, Kaneko S, Sawamoto K, Okano HJ, Toyama Y, Okano H: �Neural stem/progenitor cell transplantation for spinal cord repair; optimal timing of transplantation.� Progress in Neurological Surgery (eds. Freese A, Simone FA, Leone P, Janson C), Basel, Karger, 18: 104-123 (2005).

Iwanami A, Yamane J, Katoh H, Nakamura M, Momomoshima S, Ishii H, Tanioka Y, Tamaoki N, Nomura T, Toyama Y, Okano H: Establishment of Graded Spinal Cord Injury Model in a Non-human Primate: the Common Marmoset. J. Neurosci,Res. 80: 172-181 (2005)

Iwanami, A., Kakneko, S., Nakamura, M., Kanemura, Y., Mori, H., Kobayashi, S., Yamasaki, M., Momoshima, S., Ishii, H., Ando, K., Tanioka, Y., Tamaoki, N., Nomura, T.,Toyama, Y. and Okano, H.: Transplantation of human neural stem/progenitor cells promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury in common marmoset. J. Neurosci.,Res. 80: 182-190 (2005)

Okada S, Nakamura M, Mikami Y, Shimazaki T, Mihara M, Ohsugi Y, Iwamoto Y, Yoshizaki K, Kishimoto T, Toyama Y, Okano H..: Blockade of interleukin-6 receptor suppresses reactive astrogliosis and ameliorates functional recovery in experimental spinal cord injury. J. Neurosci Res. 76: 265-276 (2004)

Tamura T, Nakamura M, Ogawa Y, Toyama Y, Miura M and Okano H: Selective expression of anti-apoptotic protein, p35, in oligodendrocytes reduces functional impairment after spinal cord injury. Glia In Press (2005)

Contact

Masaya Nakamura (masa@sc.itc.keio.ac.jp)