Press release - 22nd January 2007
New Japanese collaboration with NCRM on Stem cell therapy for Cirrhosis of Liver
Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM), an Indo-Japan joint venture institute based at Chennai and Prof. Isao Sakaida, Professor & Head of the dept. of Hepatology & Gastroenterology, Yamaguchi University, Ube, Japan have agreed to collaborate on research and clinical treatment for Cirrhosis of Liver using stem cells. Prof. Sakaida is a pioneer in treatment for Cirrhosis of Liver and has already started treating his patients suffering from liver cirrhosis in Japan using their own stem cells drawn from bone marrow. The initial outcome of his clinical treatment was published in “Stem Cells” Journal in June 2006 *.
Cirrhosis of Liver is a chronic disease of the liver mainly caused by Alcoholism and Viral infection (Especially hepatitis C) in which normal liver cells and tissue are destructed and replaced by fibrotic scar tissue as well as regenerative nodules, leading to progressive loss of liver function. There has been no definitive treatment available for such progressive disease to repair the damaged liver cells/ tissues. In the long run, severely affected liver will culminate in liver failure. Liver being the major organ for metabolism in human body, any level of failure in its function will result in symptoms and signs according to the severity and so, liver failure is followed by failure of other organs such as kidney and in later stages it will lead to damage of the brain called Hepatic Encephalopathy leading to coma and death of the patient.
Prof. Sakaida’s Pioneering work on Cirrhosis of Liver using Stem cells
Probably this work of Prof. Sakaida in Japan could be the first in the world that the patients own bone marrow derived stem cells have been used in treating liver cirrhosis based on scientific evidence. Prof. Sakaida’s team first proved in animal models the special mechanism by which the bone marrow stem cells repair the damaged liver(Publsihed in Hepaology, 2004**), following which they started offering clinical treatment to human patients in the Yamaguchi University for liver cirrhosis. In their treatment, 300~400ml of patients bone marrow is taken and stem cells are separated by an in-house developed technology, which takes approximately 5 Hrs. Then the stem cells are injected into the patients, through peripheral vein. The injected stem cells reach the damaged liver and repair the damages. They have studied the pre and post treatment Ultrasound, CT Scan and biopsy of the patients liver, liver function tests and other parameters which have proven that the treatment is significantly effective in repairing the damages caused by cirrhosis. This method is considered safe as it doesn’t use any foreign material and so no chances for rejection of the cells as well.
Prof.Sakaida (Left) with Dr Abraham after the meeting at Palace Hotel, Tokyo; 19 Jan07.
Stem Cell based treatment for Liver Cirrhosis in Chennai by NCRM:
By this collaboration and exchange of technological know-how with Prof Sakaida and his team, NCRM will soon start offering the similar stem cell based treatments for liver cirrhosis which is affecting millions of people every year in India. The collaboration between NCRM and his team was arrived at, in a meeting between Dr Samuel JK Abraham (Dept of Cardiac surgery, Yamanashi University, Japan), Director, NCRM and Prof. Isao Sakaida at Tokyo on the 19th January 2007.This collaborative effort has been made possible by the earlier visit of a team led by Prof. Tsukahara (Vice-President) and Prof. Fujii (Surgical gasteroenterologist) of Yamanashi University, Japan who scrutinized the work of NCRM till date in October 2006 and recommended their case to Prof. Sakaida. Prof. Fujii and Prof. Sakaida will guide the NCRM team as advisors in this work.
Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM)`s role in bridging the gap between India and Japan:
NCRM has got technical collaborations with several Japanese institutes who have strong research and development background and Indian hospitals that have very good clinical skills. The major aim of NCRM is to develop clinically usable stem cells, progenitor cells and cells with regenerative capability, which are the backbone of Regenerative Medicine and to standardize protocols of application of the same in clinical treatment with such bilateral partnerships,. In this matter, NCRM`s core strength has been several synthetic cell substrates and technology such as Thermogelation polymer, Hydro Gels, Nano composite materials based tissue engineering and Nano-surface coated cell culture technology, all of them have been developed by various Japanese institutes in the past two decades. Apart from Liver Cirrhosis, NCRM has also been involved in the research of Corneal limbal stem cells with Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, Corneal endothelial cell precursors with Joseph eye hospital, Trichy and Retinal Stem Cells with Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital, Mumbai. NCRM team have been instrumental in offering stem cell based treatments for ischemic leg ulcers of diabetic patients at Vijaya hospitals (First time in TN), Chennai and Autologous Immune Enhancement Therapy for cancer patients using their own Natural killer cells in diseases such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia and other forms of solid cancers (First time in India).
For further details please contact:
NCRM, Chennai, India: +91-44-42321322; Prof. Sakaida, Ube, Japan: sakaida@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
Links to related news : New Scientist 2006; 2004; Science Daily; Innovations report, BBC,
References:
* Terai et al., Stem Cells. 2006 Oct;24(10):2292-8. Improved liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis after autologous bone marrow cell infusion therapy.
** Sakaida et al., Hepatology 2004; 40(6): 1304-11: Transplantation of bone marrow cells reduces CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice.
** Sakaida: Journal of Electrophoresis, Vol. 50, pp.7-12 (2006) “Cell therapy with bone marrow cell for liver cirrhosis”.
Media Coverage: Dinamani, Indian Express, UNI news, Web India
