Okano Lab Weblog

The 21st Century COE Program

	Cell isolatoin with FACS Research support Student training on FACS Providing training courses
	Human neural stem cell (hNSC) culture at the GMP level Preparing gene-transfected hNSC Preparing gene-transfected hNSC
	Various attempts at identification, isolation and functional analysis with the goal of organ regeneration

Aim of Our Study

The “Stem Cell Isolation” Team has been identifying stem cells in various tissues, isolating them by flow cytometry and then analyzing their properties.

Individual organs (or tissues) are composed of various types of cells.

For example, the bone marrow, which serves as the primary location of hematopoiesis in adults, is composed of a mixture of mature blood cells (granulocytes, monocytes, macrophages, erythrocytes, B lymphocytes, NK cells and a small number of T lymphocytes), precursor cells (later developing into cells constituting various systems), a very small number of stem cells, and non-hematopoietic cells (stromal cells and vascular endothelial cells).

When isolating the target cells alone from this mixture of cells, the target cells are first identified based on the presence of a marker, and then the identified cells are isolated from this mixture containing diverse cells.

Flow cytometry is used for isolating the target cells. Flow cytometry allows the target cells to be separated and collected in a viable form, aseptically and with high specificity, from a mixture of diverse cells.

Isolation of stem cells capable of differentiating into various tissues is a very important research theme from both the clinical perspective (aimed at regenerative medicine) and the basic research perspective (clarification of the properties of stem cells in tissues).

Contact

9N5 Keio University School of Medicine
35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Tel 81-3-03-5363-3117（Matsuzaki）/3565 (Lab)
Fax: 81-3-03-5363-3566
Yumi Matsuzaki（penguin＠sc.itc.keio.ac.jp）