 Message
from Professor Toshio
Nikaido, PhD.
[Department of Regenerative Medicine,Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University]
Cerebrovascular
disorder, diabetes,
myocardial infarction,
osteoarthritis, chronic
rheumatism are difficult
to treat diseases of
old age and are diseases
of the elderly that
clinicians encounter
most frequently in
everyday situations.
With the advent of
the aging society,
the morbidity is extremely
high. Their mechanism
is the destruction
of tissues and cells
due to aging and treatment
is deemed to be difficult.
No effective methods
exist at present, other
than organ transplant
or cell transplant,
for these irreparably
severe organ dysfunction,
organ failure or chronic
loss of organ functions.
In recent years, research
has advanced in the
areas of human ES cells
and tissue stem cells.
These have been found
to apply to various
tissues and are thus
attracting wide interest
as new sources of cells
for cell transplant.
However, from the viewpoint
of practical clinical
application, these
cells have the inherent
problem of unstable
supply, rejection,
development of malignant
tumors and ethical
issues. Solutions to
these problems are
highly desired. Looking
at human embryology,
the amniotic membrane,
among the extraembryonic
tissues, comprise the
amniotic epithelium
that derives from the
upper blastoderm that
forms the fetus and
part of the mesoderm,
and we have discovered
that multifunctional
stem cells are included
in the cells of the
amniotic tissues.
The
human
amniotic
tissues
are
discarded
after
the
delivery
of
the
fetus.
These
tissues
have
the
advantage
that
rejection
rate
after
transplant
is
relatively
low
and
compared
to
human
ES
cells,
ethically
and
technically,
they
are
easier
to
acquire.
Thus,
although
the
amniotic
membrane
requires
full
and
proper
consideration
in
terms
of
ethics
and
safety,
it
is
a rich
source
of
biomaterial.
To
use
this
for
medical
treatment
would
lead
to
eco-friendly
medicine
using
waste
material
from
biological
resources,
resulting
in
a great
social
benefit.
ArBlast
Inc.
had
the
foresight
to
focus
on
the
amniotic
tissue
and
aims
to
undertake
regenerative
medicine
mainly
involving
the
amniotic
tissue.
It
is
a company
that
wishes
to
act
in
harmony
with
human
and
environment
and
is
thus
a company
that
shows
promise
for
the
future. |