▲ Stem Cell Engineering Laboratory, Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Group Photo with Professor Lee in the front center

The Stem Cell Engineering Laboratory of the Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology of Dongguk University, has successfully developed a technique for the efficient isolation and enrichment of mesenchymal stem cells with potent therapeutic effects from random differentiation-induced human embryonic stem cells by utilizing the interaction between integrin α5β1 and fibronectin (Sole Corresponding author, Soo-Hong Lee). Professor Lee’s research findings have been published in the renowned scientific journal Advanced Science (IF = 15.84, ranked upper 5% by Journal Citation Reports).

Pluripotent stem cells can differentiate into any cell that makes up a living body and exhibit unlimited proliferation, enabling them to be a source for the mass production of mesenchymal stem cells, which exert favorable effects in tissue regeneration and cell therapy. However, a significant technical barrier that hindered this process was the separation of mesenchymal stem cells en masse from random differentiation-induced pluripotent stem cells.

Professor Soo-Hong Lee’s research group has successfully developed an efficient separation technique for mesenchymal stem cells that exert favorable effects in tissue regeneration and cell therapy. This success is attributed to the utilization of the interaction between integrin α5β1 (a specific cell surface receptor on mesenchymal stem cells) and fibronectin (a biomaterial). In particular, the mesenchymal stem cells separated using fibronectin showed an anti-senescence effect and a higher cell proliferation rate than other mesenchymal stem cells derived from the bone marrow and adipose tissue.

Professor Soo-Hong Lee stated, “The innovative technique developed by Stem Cell Engineering Laboratory at the Department of Medical Biotechnology, Dongguk University most certainly will become a source technology in the field of cell therapy products and regenerative medicine for the mass production of clinically proven mesenchymal stem cells and the enhancement of therapeutic effects.”

Professor Lee’s research was jointly funded by Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency for Construction of Korea National Hygiene and Medical Infrastructure and Korea Ministry of Information and ICT for Individual Basic R&D Program and Bio•Medical Technology Development Program.