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Human Life CORD Japan Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Masamitsu Harata; hereinafter “HLC”), a company pioneering the practical application and global deployment of umbilical cord–derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs) as regenerative medicine products, hereby announces that its joint research with the Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo (Director: Atsushi Iwama, Minato-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter “IMSUT”) has demonstrated neuroprotective effects of UC-MSCs in a radiation-induced neuronal injury model. The findings have been published in the international scientific journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy.

Radiation therapy is indispensable for the treatment of brain tumors, brain metastases, and central nervous system infiltration in leukemia. While radiation effectively targets cancer cells, it can also damage surrounding healthy brain tissues and potentially lead to long-term neurological dysfunction. Effective therapeutic approaches for radiation-induced brain injury remain limited.

In this study, neurons derived from fetal mouse brain tissue were exposed to radiation and subsequently co-cultured with UC-MSCs. Radiation-induced neuronal damage and changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated to investigate whether UC-MSCs could exert protective effects against radiation-induced neuronal injury.

The results showed that co-culture with UC-MSCs suppressed the radiation-induced increase in reactive oxygen species, which can damage cells, and reduced neuronal necrosis. These findings suggest that UC-MSCs may exert neuroprotective effects against radiation-induced neuronal injury.

Professor Tokiko Nagamura of the Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, commented as follows:
“Reactive oxygen species are considered one of the causes of central nervous system damage not only associated with radiation therapy but also with conditions such as cerebral palsy and encephalitis, as well as peripheral nerve disorders. Our findings that UC-MSCs suppress the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and reduce neuronal injury suggest the potential application of UC-MSC-based therapies for neuronal damage.”

HLC will continue to advance research and development in UC-MSC–based cell therapy with the aim of delivering safe, reliable, and scientifically grounded medical solutions.

Publication Details

  • Journal: Stem Cell Research & Therapy

  • Title: Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells attenuate radiation-induced neuron damage in vitro

  • Authors: Thi Binh Pham, Kenshi Sei, Yuki Yamamoto, Takeo Mukai, Hiroyuki Akai, Tokiko Nagamura-Inoue

  • URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41572332/

 
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