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ORGAN GENERATION AND REGENERATION (OGR)

Poster Session 3 (ODD)

(F1087) DEVELOPMENT OF hiPSC-DERIVED SCAFFOLD-FREE CARTILAGE TISSUES FOR PEDIATRIC TRACHEAL DISEASES

Friday, June 13, 2025
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM HK Time

    Presenting Author(s)

  • SH

    Shojiro Hanaki, MD

    Medical Doctor and PhD Candidate
    Department of Regenerative Science, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama 700-8558, Japan., Japan

Abstract: Pediatric tracheal reconstruction presents significant challenges due to the need for growth-compatible solutions. Current approaches, including autologous tissues, tissue-engineered constructs, and allogeneic grafts, remain clinically underdeveloped. We developed human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived expandable PRRX1+ limb bud mesenchymal (ExpLBM) cells, functioning as human chondrocyte progenitor cells (hCPCs). These hCPCs can be mass-produced, cryopreserved, and used to generate stable scaffold-free cartilage tissues through a cell self-aggregation technique (CAT). This study evaluates the feasibility of applying hCPC-derived cartilage in pediatric tracheal reconstruction.
Male immunodeficient rats (F344-Il2rgem1Iexas, 5 weeks old, ~150 g) were used to establish tracheal defect models. Two experimental groups were examined: hCPC-derived cartilage grafts and autologous rib cartilage grafts. hCPCs were processed into chondro-plates using the CAT method. After surgery, rats were monitored for three months to evaluate graft adaptation, tracheal integration, and epithelial remodeling.
The hCPC-derived cartilage group exhibited significant tracheal adaptation, with no evidence of stenosis. The tracheal diameter expanded by approximately 1.5–2.0 times, and epithelial attachment was robust, facilitating successful graft integration. In contrast, rib cartilage grafts showed limited epithelial integration and tracheal stenosis. Notably, hCPC-derived chondro-plates retained their functionality after cryopreservation, highlighting their potential for on-demand clinical applications.
This study demonstrates the feasibility of scaffold-free cartilage tissues derived from hCPCs for addressing critical challenges in pediatric tracheal reconstruction. The CAT method enhances graft biocompatibility and adaptability. Further investigations in large animal models and refinement of clinical application protocols are essential to advance their pediatric applications.

Funding Source: This research was supported by AMED (Grant Number: 18bm0704024h0001, 20bm0404064h0001) to Takeshi Takarada.

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