ｉＰＳ角膜、患者４人に移植完了　安全性、有効性を確認―大阪大

　人工多能性幹細胞（ｉＰＳ細胞）から作った角膜の移植手術を世界で初めて実施した大阪大の西田幸二教授（眼科学）らの研究グループが４日、同大で記者会見し、患者４人を対象とした臨床研究を完了したと発表した。安全性と有効性が確認され、来年にも臨床試験（治験）を始めて４年後をめどに実用化を目指すという。
　移植を受けたのは、角膜が白く濁って失明する可能性のある難病「角膜上皮幹細胞疲弊症」の患者。西田教授らは２０１９年７月～２０年１２月、他人のｉＰＳ細胞から作った角膜上皮シート（直径３．５センチ、厚さ０．０３～０．０５ミリ）を、３０～７０代の男女４人に移植した。
　いずれも拒絶反応やがん化などの有害事象はなく、安全性が確認できた。失明に近い状態の患者もいたが、３人は視力が顕著に回復したという。（2022/04/04-18:09）

A Japanese research team Monday said it has confirmed that transplants of corneal cells created from induced pluripotent stem, or iPS, cells are safe and effective.
   The team, which carried out the world's first transplant of iPS-derived corneal cells, announced the completion of its clinical research on four transplanted patients.
   At a news conference in the western city of Suita, Osaka Prefecture, the team, including Osaka University professor Koji Nishida, said it aims to start a clinical trial of the treatment next year and put it into practical use within four years after that.
   In the clinical research, iPS-derived corneal cells were transplanted into patients suffering from corneal epithelial stem cell deficiency. The disease causes corneas to become cloudy, possibly making patients blind.
   The team created sheets of corneal cells derived from iPS cells from other people. The sheets, 3.5 centimeters in diameter and 0.03-0.05 millimeters thick, were transplanted into four people in their 30s to 70s.