從皮膚培植視網膜細胞

Last month the FNN on-line reported the following:

理化学研究所は、さまざまな細胞に成長する「iPS細胞」を、目の網膜の再生に応用する、世界初の臨床研究を国に申請した。
理化学研究所の高橋政代プロジェクトリーダーは、「(臨床研究を)やってほしいという切実な方が、日本全国から来られるので、非常につらい病気であると、また実感した」と話した。
iPS細胞は、京都大学の山中伸弥教授が開発し、再生医療への応用が期待されている。
理化学研究所の研究グループは、「滲出(しんしゅつ)型加齢黄斑変性」という、失明につながる目の病気の患者の皮膚からiPS細胞を作り、網膜の細胞に成長させて移植する治療法の実用化を目指している。
国の了承を得られれば、世界で初めて、iPS細胞が人体に移植されることになり、研究グループは、人工的に作った細胞が、体内で異常を起こさないかの確認などを行い、1例目の手術は、早ければ2014年に行われるという。

(試譯文)

The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research had applied to the country for the world's first clinical study that would use the "iPS cell", a cell which could grow into various cells, to reproduce the retina of eyes.

Masayo Takahashi, the project leader of the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research said that "It is compelling and I want to do it (the clinical study) because it is a very painful sickness, it comes from the whole country of Japan and I actually feel it ".

The iPS cell was developed by Professor Shinya Yamanaka of the Kyoto University, and its application in the field of regenerative medicine was expected.

The research consortium of the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research aimed at its utilization by way of making an iPS cell from the skin of the patient and grew it into the cell of the retina and transplanted. In this way it could cure the sick patient who was suffering from the "exuded type age-related macular degeneration" in the eye and suffered from the loss of eyesight.

It was said that if the consent of the country was obtained, for the first time in the world the iPS cell would be transplanted into a human body. A research consortium would perform checking to know whether the cell made artificially could start some abnormalities in the body. The first operation example would be performed in 2014 at the earliest.

It is good news to those who have retinal problems in the eye.