【Current status of skeletal dysplasia and potential of cell treatment】
In an aging society, the number of patients with skeletal dysplasia such as bone injury, meniscus injury and rheumatism has tended to increase. It is estimated that there are 25 million people suffering from gonarthrosis in Japan and more than half of them have meniscus injuries. Although medical treatments such as spinal cord stimulation, osteochondral transplantation, autologous cartilage transplantation and meniscectomy/meniscal repair are available at present, development of novel approaches is required for more effective and low-burden therapy.
Recent studies have confirmed that stem cell transplantation into the knees of patients who suffer from gonarthrosis improved cartilage repair and knee mobility.。
【Institutes conducting animal experiments or clinical trials】
◆ Shimane University ◆ Tokyo University ◆ Kyoto University
◆ Tokyo Medical and Dental University ◆ Osaka University
【Case : Tokyo Medical and Dental University】
It has been confirmed that cell suspension of synovial stem cells regenerated damaged cartilage and meniscus, and stem cell transplantation induced to promote healing after meniscal repair in animal experiments.
A clinical trial for patients with meniscus injuries has been conducted. In this trial, the safety and efficacy of synovial stem cell transplantation after meniscal repair surgery has been evaluated. It is expected that the synovial stem cells can promote meniscus regeneration in treated patients.