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Projekt Druckansicht

Generieren humaner Surrogat-Hepatozyten durch integrations- und onkogenfreie Zell-Umprogrammierung

Antragsteller Dr. Milad Rezvani
Fachliche Zuordnung Gastroenterologie
Förderung Förderung von 2015 bis 2016
Projektkennung Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 272982029
 
Erstellungsjahr 2017

Zusammenfassung der Projektergebnisse

Chronic injuries to the liver result in repeated hepatocyte death and a scarring response known as fibrosis which is mainly driven by hepatic myofibroblasts (MF) that deposit collagen in the liver. In persisting liver injury, liver fibrosis progresses to cirrhosis as the end-stage of chronic liver diseases. Currently, liver transplantation is the only effective treatment for cirrhosis, but donor liver scarcity and complications from immune-suppressive medications have prompted research for therapeutic alternatives. Liver cell transplantation of either primary hepatocytes or reprogrammed hepatocytes (iHeps) from autologous cell sources are attractive approaches but in cirrhotic livers, a major hurdle is long-term engraftment. As a solution to these problems, we developed in vivo hepatic reprogramming of MFs into hepatocytes to overcome the need for engraftment and limit the collagen deposition. We identified a naturally occurring adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid, AAV6, as effective in transducing MFs and established the direct reprogramming of MFs into iHeps (MF-iHeps) in vivo using AAV6. MF-iHeps function and proliferate in vivo similarly to primary hepatocytes and reduce liver fibrosis. We also established hepatic reprogramming of human MFs using AAV6. Since AAVs are already used in clinical trials, this approach has potential for clinical translation. Radio interviews with Milad Rezvani on liver disease research, Science Today on CBS radio news, broadcasted July 5, 13 and 28.

Projektbezogene Publikationen (Auswahl)

 
 

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