INFORMATION
Glossary: words in regenerative medicine
Definitions of terms used in regenerative medicine news and materials — stem cells, differentiation, culture, evidence — each with its sources.
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Types of cells28
- Stem cell
- A cell able to copy itself (self-renewal) and become other cell types (differentiation) — e.g. hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow continually replenish blood. Properties differ by source and differentiation range; a central material of regenerative medicine.Source：CiRA（京都大学iPS細胞研究所） ↗
- Pluripotent stem cell
- A stem cell able to differentiate into many cell types of the body — ES and iPS cells are examples and can in theory produce nearly all tissues. A key challenge is that residual undifferentiated cells can form tumors.Source：CiRA（京都大学iPS細胞研究所） ↗
- ES cell
- Pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of blastocysts — established in mice in 1981 and humans in 1998. Because they come from embryos, they raise ethical considerations and are reviewed under Japanese guidelines.Source：CiRA（京都大学iPS細胞研究所） ↗
- iPS cell
- Pluripotent stem cells made artificially by introducing several factors into body cells such as skin or blood. Reported by Shinya Yamanaka's group in mice (2006) and humans (2007), and recognized by the 2012 Nobel Prize.Read more：What Are iPS Cells? The Mechanism, Research, and Limited Clinical Uses Explained →Source：CiRA（京都大学iPS細胞研究所） ↗
- Somatic (adult) stem cell
- Stem cells found in adult tissues such as bone marrow, fat, blood, or skin, responsible for repairing injured tissue and daily cell turnover. Their differentiation range is generally limited to related lineages.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)
- Somatic stem cells from bone marrow, fat, or umbilical cord. They can become bone, cartilage, or fat cells and are noted for secreting anti-inflammatory factors. Widely used in research and private practice; efficacy is still being evaluated per condition.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Hematopoietic stem cell
- Bone-marrow stem cells that continually produce all blood cells — red cells, white cells, platelets. Bone-marrow and peripheral-blood stem cell transplants for leukemia have nearly five decades of clinical history.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Cancer stem cell
- Cells within tumors thought to self-renew and seed recurrence or metastasis after treatment. A concept still under investigation, being explored as a therapeutic target.Source：国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス ↗
- Adipose-derived stem cell
- MSCs harvested from fat tissue, often obtainable during liposuction, so collection burden is relatively low. Cell quantity and quality vary by person, with age and health effects reported.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Neural stem cell
- Stem cells in nervous tissue such as brain and spinal cord that produce neurons and glial cells. They exist in limited adult brain regions and are studied for spinal-cord injury and neurodegenerative disease.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Progenitor cell
- An intermediate cell committed to a specific lineage, with limited self-renewal. Because it is already close to the target cell, it can be a safer material for transplant products.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Fibroblast
- A connective-tissue cell in the dermis and elsewhere that produces extracellular matrix such as collagen and elastin. Active in wound repair and one of the most common source cells for making iPS cells.Read more：What Are iPS Cells? The Mechanism, Research, and Limited Clinical Uses Explained →Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- T cell
- A lymphocyte central to immunity — killer T cells attack infected or cancerous cells, helper T cells coordinate the response. Also involved in transplant rejection and GVHD.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Macrophage
- An immune cell that engulfs and digests foreign matter and dead cells. It has inflammatory (M1-like) and resolving/repair (M2-like) modes, and is watched as a coordinator of tissue regeneration.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Dendritic cell
- An antigen-presenting cell that passes information about foreign material to T cells — the command center of immune responses, also applied in cancer-vaccine research.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- White blood cell
- Blood cells responsible for immunity — lymphocytes, monocytes (macrophage precursors), granulocytes. Measured in blood tests as an indicator of infection and inflammation.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Lymphocyte
- A white-blood-cell type including T, B, and NK cells — the core of adaptive immunity that remembers and eliminates specific threats; a target of transplant rejection and immunosuppression.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- B cell
- A lymphocyte that produces antibodies — it reacts to antigens, becomes a plasma cell, and secretes antibodies at scale. Central to humoral immunity and vaccine responses.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- NK cell
- A lymphocyte that can attack virus-infected or cancerous cells without prior sensitization — part of innate immunity, studied for cancer therapy applications.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Epithelial cell
- Cells lining the skin, mucosa, and organ surfaces — corneal, intestinal, airway epithelium — forming the barrier against the outside. They can be cultured into sheets for transplantation.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Endothelial cell
- The cell layer lining the inside of blood vessels, forming the interface with blood and regulating permeability, coagulation, and blood pressure — a key component in tissue engineering to carry blood flow.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Osteoblast
- The bone-forming cell — it deposits collagen and calcium phosphate to build and repair bone, while partner osteoclasts resorb old bone in constant remodeling.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Chondrocyte
- The cell that builds and maintains cartilage matrix such as collagen and proteoglycans. Cartilage has no blood vessels, so injured cartilage heals poorly on its own.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Satellite cell
- A stem cell resting just outside skeletal-muscle fibers. When fibers are damaged by exercise or injury, it activates and proliferates, contributing to muscle repair and growth.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Hematopoietic progenitor cell
- An intermediate cell on the way from hematopoietic stem cells to mature blood cells — erythroid, myeloid, megakaryocyte lineages — distinguished from stem cells by its committed direction.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Embryo
- The early stage of development after fertilization — in humans up to about week 8, including the blastocyst stage that yields ES cells. Research involves strict ethical rules as it concerns the origin of human life.Source：CiRA（京都大学iPS細胞研究所） ↗
- Blastocyst
- The embryo stage around day 5–6 after fertilization, divided into an outer trophoblast and an inner cell mass — the latter being the source material of ES cells.Source：CiRA（京都大学iPS細胞研究所） ↗
- Germline
- The lineage of cells transmitting information to the next generation (eggs, sperm, and their precursors). Editing the human germline is banned or restricted in Japan and many countries because changes pass to descendants.Source：CiRA（京都大学iPS細胞研究所） ↗
Cell behavior & culture27
- Self-renewal
- The ability to divide and produce more stem cells of the same kind — the source that lets stem cells replenish tissue for life. Cells that only differentiate are not stem cells.Source：CiRA（京都大学iPS細胞研究所） ↗
- Differentiation
- The process of a stem cell becoming a specific cell type such as skin, bone, or nerve. Differentiation is usually irreversible; finding the right factors and scaffolds to obtain target cells efficiently is a core research theme.Source：CiRA（京都大学iPS細胞研究所） ↗
- Reprogramming
- Reverting differentiated body cells back to a stem-cell-like undifferentiated state — the iPS-cell procedure is the prime example, achieved with the Yamanaka factors (OCT3/4, SOX2, KLF4, c-MYC).Read more：What Are iPS Cells? The Mechanism, Research, and Limited Clinical Uses Explained →Source：CiRA（京都大学iPS細胞研究所） ↗
- Culture
- Growing cells outside the body in incubators with controlled temperature, oxygen, and nutrients. Clinical use requires strict sterile management.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Niche
- The microenvironment where stem cells reside and maintain their properties — e.g. the bone-marrow niche supports hematopoietic stem cells via neighboring cells, matrix, and blood flow working together.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Paracrine effect
- A mechanism where a cell's secretions (cytokines, growth factors, exosomes) act on nearby cells. Part of the effect of transplanted stem cells is attributed to these secretions rather than the cells themselves.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Exosome
- Tiny vesicles (~30–150 nm) released by cells, a kind of extracellular vesicle carrying RNA and proteins for intercellular communication. Studied as a cell-free therapy.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Homing
- The migration and settling of administered cells at target sites such as injuries or niches. MSCs given intravenously are known to gather at inflamed sites — a property used in therapy.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Engraftment
- Engraftment — transplanted cells or tissue surviving and starting to function at the recipient site. Without engraftment there is no effect, so raising engraftment rates is a key transplantation challenge.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Cell cycle
- The sequence of stages (G1→S→G2→M) a cell goes through to divide. A properly running cycle defines normal growth; an abnormal cycle can signal tumor formation.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Apoptosis
- Programmed cell death — the mechanism by which damaged or unneeded cells are removed. If it fails, abnormal proliferation can follow.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Transdifferentiation (direct reprogramming)
- Directly converting one differentiated cell type into another without returning to a stem-cell state — e.g. fibroblasts converted into neurons have been reported.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Cell processing center (CPC)
- A dedicated facility for culturing and processing cells, with mandated sterile and quality-control standards. Clinical-grade cells must be produced in approved facilities.Source：厚生労働省「再生医療等の安全性の確保等に関する法律」 ↗
- Cell bank
- A facility storing frozen cells — both to keep quality-checked cells ready for later use and to bank donor cells such as the iPS-cell stock.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Proliferation
- Cell division that increases cell numbers. In culture, proliferation rate matters — too fast or too slow can each signal quality problems.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Cellular senescence
- The state where cells stop dividing after repeated divisions. Senescent cells secrete inflammatory factors and can harm their surroundings.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Extracellular matrix
- The scaffold of proteins (collagen etc.) and sugars surrounding cells, providing support and signals, and determining tissue shape and stiffness.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Culture supernatant
- The medium left after culturing cells, containing secreted factors. Used in 'supernatant therapy' without cells; ingredient variability and efficacy remain under evaluation.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Asymmetric division
- A stem-cell division producing one new stem cell and one differentiating daughter — the mechanism that replenishes tissue while preserving the stem-cell pool.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Passage (subculture)
- Splitting cultured cells into new vessels to keep them growing. Repeated passages can age cells or alter their properties, so clinical use sets passage limits.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Cryopreservation
- Long-term storage of cells frozen in liquid nitrogen, using cryoprotectants such as DMSO with controlled procedures to preserve post-thaw viability.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Culture medium
- The nutrient solution for growing cells, containing amino acids, vitamins, sugars, and growth factors. Its composition changes cell growth and properties.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Serum-free culture
- Culturing cells with defined additives instead of serum — reduces lot-to-lot variation and infection risk, increasingly used for clinical-grade cells.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Extracellular vesicle (EV)
- The general term for membrane-bound vesicles released by cells — including exosomes and microvesicles — involved in intercellular communication.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Secretome
- The full set of secretions from a cell — proteins, cytokines, exosomes, etc. Central to studies explaining stem-cell effects via their secretome.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Immunogenicity
- The property of being recognized as foreign and provoking an immune response. Highly immunogenic donor cells are rejected more easily, so low-immunogenicity cells are being developed.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Immune evasion
- The ability of cells or tissue to avoid attack by the host's immunity — pursued via HLA-matched iPS-cell stocks and gene-edited cells needing less immunosuppression.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
Administration & safety27
- Autologous transplant
- Transplantation using the patient's own cells — less rejection risk, but burdens include collection invasiveness, cost, and variable cell quality.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Allogeneic transplant
- Transplantation using another person's cells — easier to prepare and mass-produce, but requires rejection management, infection control, and donor-eligibility checks.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Rejection
- The body's immune attack on transplanted cells/tissue as foreign — common in allogeneic grafts, controlled by HLA matching and immunosuppression.Source：国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス ↗
- GVHD (graft-versus-host disease)
- Graft-versus-host disease — transplanted immune cells attack the patient's body. A particular concern in bone-marrow transplant, affecting skin, liver, and gut.Source：国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス ↗
- Intravenous (IV) administration
- Intravenous administration of cells via drip — easy and systemic, but many cells are first trapped in the lungs (pulmonary first-pass).Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Pulmonary first-pass
- The trapping of intravenously administered cells in lung capillaries first. It affects how many cells reach target organs and informs the choice of route.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Tumorigenicity
- The risk of transplanted cells forming tumors. For pluripotent-stem-cell-derived products, residual undifferentiated cells are the concern and their detection is a quality focus.Source：PMDA ↗
- Tumor lysis syndrome
- A metabolic disorder from sudden massive tumor-cell breakdown — a known complication in cancer treatment, watched for electrolyte and kidney problems.Source：国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス ↗
- Donor eligibility
- Confirmation that a cell donor has passed infection and genetic-risk screening — rigorous checks protect recipient safety.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Allergic reaction
- An immune reaction to components or additives in cell products — ranges from mild rash to anaphylaxis, so observation before/after administration matters.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Follow-up
- Ongoing monitoring after administration — regenerative medicine requires long-term follow-up to catch delayed adverse events, not only efficacy.Source：PMDA ↗
- Bleeding & hematoma
- Possible complications at collection/administration puncture sites — especially with anticoagulants, managed by compression and observation.Source：PMDA 副作用被害救済制度 ↗
- Fever & inflammatory response
- A possible post-administration reaction — mild fever is often transient, but can also signal infection or strong inflammation, distinguished by testing.Source：PMDA 副作用被害救済制度 ↗
- Immunosuppression
- Drugs or measures to suppress rejection and immune responses — often needed for allogeneic grafts, balanced against infection risk.Source：国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス ↗
- Long-term registry follow-up
- A registry recording treated patients' outcomes long-term — helps detect delayed risks early; enrollment is advancing in regenerative medicine.Source：PMDA ↗
- Intra-arterial administration
- Catheter-based delivery of cells into an artery closer to the target organ — better local concentration, but more invasive than IV administration.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Local administration
- Direct local administration into or near the lesion — intra-articular, skin, myocardium, etc. Better delivery, with attention to procedural and local complications.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- IV drip
- The standard drip administration through a vein — also used for cell suspensions, with controlled rate and volume.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Adverse event
- Any unfavorable medical occurrence after treatment — recorded and reported whether or not causally related to the therapy.Source：PMDA ↗
- Side effect
- An effect of a drug or treatment other than its intended effect — usually refers to adverse events judged causally related.Source：PMDA 副作用被害救済制度 ↗
- Complication
- A complication arising with a disease or treatment — distinguished between procedural complications (bleeding, infection) and product-related ones.Source：PMDA 副作用被害救済制度 ↗
- Risk-benefit
- The balance of treatment risks against benefits — weighing certainty of effect against severity of harms, explained in informed consent.Source：PMDA ↗
- Micro pulmonary embolism
- Clumps of IV-administered cells lodging in small lung vessels — rare reports exist; managed by filtration and dose adjustment.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Ectopic tissue formation
- Transplanted cells forming tissue of the wrong place or type — e.g. bone forming where cartilage was intended — possible when differentiation control is incomplete.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Cold chain
- Cold-chain transport/storage keeping cells and products at controlled low temperatures — temperature logging from freezing to thaw prevents degradation.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- HLA
- Human leukocyte antigen type — immune markers that drive transplant rejection; closer matching lowers rejection. iPS-cell stocks are also selected by HLA type.Source：骨髄バンク（日本骨髄バンク） ↗
- Anaphylaxis
- A sudden severe allergic reaction — can cause hypotension and airway narrowing requiring emergency care; possible with cell products or additives, so emergency readiness is required.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
Treatment & regulation43
- Approval
- Government approval of a drug/medical product's quality, efficacy, and safety — in Japan via PMDA review for MHLW. Regenerative products go through the same framework.Source：PMDA（医薬品医療機器総合機構） ↗
- Regenerative medicine product
- A product category under the PMD Act for therapies made by processing/culturing cells. Approved products can be covered by insurance; several are approved in Japan.Source：厚生労働省「再生医療等の安全性の確保等に関する法律」 ↗
- Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine
- The 2014 Act securing the safety of cell therapies provided outside approval (e.g., private practice). Clinics must submit provision plans to certified committees and the government, reviewed by risk class.Source：厚生労働省「再生医療等の安全性の確保等に関する法律」 ↗
- Provision plan
- The plan a clinic must submit under the Safety Assurance Act describing the cell therapy, risks, and facility standards — reviewed by certified committees per risk class before acceptance.Source：厚生労働省「再生医療等の安全性の確保等に関する法律」 ↗
- Clinical trial (chiken)
- Clinical trials conducted for regulatory approval — progressing safety → dose → efficacy under GCP rules; the resulting data are the basis for approval review.Source：PMDA（医薬品医療機器総合機構） ↗
- Clinical research
- Human research to gain medical knowledge — includes more than drug trials: approved treatments and observational studies, governed by the Clinical Research Act and guidelines.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Indication
- The disease or condition a treatment is indicated for. Use outside approved indications is 'off-label' — changing explanation duties and insurance coverage.Source：PMDA（医薬品医療機器総合機構） ↗
- Contraindication
- Conditions under which a treatment must not be performed (e.g., severe allergy history, certain comorbidities) — checked beforehand; if applicable, the procedure is withheld.Source：PMDA（医薬品医療機器総合機構） ↗
- Private (self-paid) care
- Care outside insurance, paid fully out of pocket — most regenerative therapies are offered this way; written explanations of price, breakdown, and expected effect matter.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Insured care
- Care covered by public health insurance — patients pay typically 30% (10–20% for elderly), limited to approved methods and drugs.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Second opinion
- Consulting a doctor other than your primary physician — a valuable step before committing to costly private care, ideally with a standard-care provider.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Informed consent
- The process of being informed about a treatment's content, effect, risks, and alternatives — with written explanation and a chance to ask questions; you can request copies.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Certified committee for regenerative medicine
- Third-party committees reviewing provision plans, composed of medical, legal, and bioethics experts certified by the MHLW minister.Source：厚生労働省「再生医療等の安全性の確保等に関する法律」 ↗
- Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act
- The PMD Act regulating approval, advertising, and sale of drugs and medical devices — cell products are reviewed under it; pre-approval efficacy claims are banned.Source：e-Gov法令検索「医薬品、医療機器等の品質、有効性及び安全性の確保等に関する法律」 ↗
- Medical Advertising Guidelines
- MHLW guidelines on medical advertising — banning exaggerated claims, before/after photos, and misleading comparisons.Source：厚生労働省「医療法における病院等の広告規制」 ↗
- Advanced medical care (senshin iryo)
- A system allowing access to advanced unapproved techniques at designated facilities, combined with insured care — listed by MHLW; some costs stay out-of-pocket.Source：厚生労働省「先進医療の概要」 ↗
- Extra-billing scheme
- How costs are handled when insured and non-insured care are combined (e.g., advanced medical care) — the insured portion is paid at normal cost-sharing.Source：厚生労働省「先進医療の概要」 ↗
- Before/after imagery rules
- Using before/after photos in advertising — generally banned or strictly limited under the medical advertising guidelines.Source：厚生労働省「医療法における病院等の広告規制」 ↗
- Medical Care Act
- The fundamental law governing clinic operations, safety, and advertising — the basis for ad rules, facility standards, and medical-safety measures.Source：e-Gov法令検索「医療法」 ↗
- Ethics review board (IRB)
- Institutional review boards examining research/treatment plans for ethics — participant protection, procedural adequacy, and consent practice.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Duty of disclosure
- The legal/ethical duty of providers to give adequate explanation — insufficient explanation can invalidate consent.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Consent form
- A document recording consent to a treatment — check it covers effect, risks, costs, and alternatives, and keep a copy.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Consumer affairs center
- The public consumer hotline (dial 188) for problems with aggressive sales or contracts — the right place for concerns about high-cost treatment contracts.Source：国民生活センター「消費者ホットライン188」 ↗
- Standard of care
- The treatment with the strongest evidence at the time — grounded in guidelines; knowing standard care is the basis of any choice.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Clinical practice guideline
- Clinical practice guidelines issued by medical societies — grading evidence and recommendations to guide treatment choice.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Mixed care
- Mixing insured and non-insured care — normally voids insurance coverage entirely, with exceptions such as advanced medical care.Source：厚生労働省「先進医療の概要」 ↗
- Class II / Class III regenerative medicine
- Risk classes under the Safety Assurance Act — Class 1 highest (pluripotent cells, gene-edited), Class 2 intermediate (allogeneic cells), Class 3 lower (e.g., unprocessed autologous cells).Source：厚生労働省「再生医療等の安全性の確保等に関する法律」 ↗
- Ethical guidelines for research
- Ethical norms for human research (Declaration of Helsinki, domestic guidelines) — covering consent, privacy, and conflicts of interest.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Primary care physician
- Your regular family doctor — a good first consult for new treatments since they know your history, medications, and underlying conditions.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Written contract
- The written contract for private care — obtain the procedure details, total cost, payment, cancellation and refund terms in writing before signing.Source：消費者庁 ↗
- Medical Practitioners' Act
- The law defining physician licensing and practice — prohibits unlicensed medical practice and grounds duties/discipline.Source：e-Gov法令検索「医師法」 ↗
- Off-label use
- Use outside approved indications — done exceptionally at physician discretion; explanation and evidence review matter.Source：厚生労働省「医薬品の適応外使用」 ↗
- Consumer Affairs Agency
- The Consumer Affairs Agency — administers laws like the Act against Misleading Representations, which can apply to improper medical advertising.Source：消費者庁 ↗
- Act on the Protection of Personal Information
- The law on handling personal information — medical data requires especially careful handling, with rules on provision and consent.Source：e-Gov法令検索「個人情報保護法」 ↗
- Regenerative medicine
- The broad field of medicine aiming to restore lost function using cells or tissues — including cell transplantation, tissue engineering, and gene therapy.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Cell therapy
- The general term for therapies administering living cells — a core of regenerative medicine; safety handling varies by autologous/allogeneic source and processing.Read more：What Actually Goes Into Your Body in Stem Cell Treatment? →Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Specified processed cell product
- The Safety Assurance Act's category for cells processed by culturing or activation — provided upon notification and managed by risk class.Source：厚生労働省「再生医療等の安全性の確保等に関する法律」 ↗
- Clinical Research Act
- The 2018 act regulating clinical research on humans — requiring conflict-of-interest disclosure, certified committees, and record keeping.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- jRCT
- MHLW's registry and disclosure system for clinical research — plans and results must be registered and are publicly searchable.Source：jRCT（厚生労働省） ↗
- UMIN-CTR
- The University hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry — a WHO primary registry recording trials to international standards.Source：UMIN-CTR ↗
- High-cost care cap
- A cap system refunding out-of-pocket costs above a threshold for insured care — private (non-insured) care is excluded; caps vary by age and income.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Medical expense deduction
- A tax deduction for part of medical costs — eligibility is defined by payment type; private-care deductions need individual confirmation.Source：国税庁「医療費控除」 ↗
- PMDA
- The independent agency reviewing and monitoring drugs and devices — the core body for approval review, post-market surveillance, and public information.Source：PMDA ↗
Reading the evidence35
- Evidence
- Scientific evidence for a treatment's effect and safety — its strength varies with study design (observational, RCT, meta-analysis) and quality; more high-quality studies mean more confidence.Source：Cochrane ↗
- Case report
- A report of one or a few patients' course. Without a comparison group, apparent recovery may reflect chance or natural history — the weakest level of evidence for effect.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Observational study
- Research observing real patients without intervention — without randomization, confounding effects are hard to eliminate.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
- A trial randomly assigning participants to treatment or control groups — evenly distributing confounders, one of the most trusted designs for proving effect.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Placebo
- An inactive lookalike drug or procedure used as control — isolating the true effect from placebo response and natural course.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Systematic review & meta-analysis
- A study systematically gathering and combining prior studies — stronger than single studies but dependent on included-study quality and publication bias.Source：Cochrane ↗
- Peer review
- Peer review — experts assess a paper before publication. It provides some quality assurance but doesn't eliminate errors or bias.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Conflict of interest (COI)
- Conflicts of interest between researchers and funders (e.g., companies) — funding ties can bias results, so disclosure is required and worth checking when reading.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Press release
- Institutional announcements of research results — may include non-peer-reviewed findings or spin; read them separately from the actual paper and independent verification.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Cohort study
- An observational study following a group over time to link factors and outcomes — strong on large-scale real-world data, though confounding remains.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Bias
- Systematic distortion entering research — selection, measurement, interpretation, or publication bias. A checklist item when reading studies since it skews results from the truth.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Statistical significance
- A statistical judgment that a difference is unlikely due to chance (usually p<0.05) — 'significant' doesn't mean clinically important; look at effect size and confidence intervals too.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Case-control study
- An observational study comparing people with an outcome (cases) to those without (controls), looking back at exposures — suited to rare diseases but prone to recall bias.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Prospective vs retrospective
- Prospective studies follow events going forward; retrospective ones look back at records — prospective yields better data but costs more time and money.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Sample size
- The number of participants in a study — too small misses real differences; too large can make trivial differences 'significant'; interpret with effect size.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Confidence interval
- The range within which the true effect likely lies (usually 95% CI) — narrower means more precise; whether it crosses 'no effect' is the key check.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Relative vs absolute risk
- Relative risk is a ratio (e.g., halved); absolute risk is the real difference (e.g., 2%→1%). Relative-only figures look dramatic — always check the absolute.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Double-blind trial
- A trial where neither participants nor researchers know group assignments — reduces expectation bias and raises comparison quality.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Open-label trial
- A trial where both participants and researchers know the treatment — used when blinding is impossible, but vulnerable to expectation bias.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Control group
- The comparison group receiving no treatment or another treatment — needed to judge whether changes in the treated group are actual effects.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Primary endpoint
- The prespecified main outcome measure (primary endpoint) — the treatment can't be called effective unless this is met.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Confounder
- A third factor affecting both treatment and outcome, distorting results (e.g., age, severity) — addressed by randomization or statistical adjustment.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Publication bias
- The tendency for positive studies to be published more often — negative studies stay invisible, so even meta-analyses can overstate effects.Source：Cochrane ↗
- Replication
- Checking whether other researchers can reproduce a result under the same conditions — replicated findings are more trustworthy than single results.Source：Cochrane ↗
- P-value
- The probability of seeing a difference at least this large under the 'no difference' hypothesis — under 0.05 is conventionally 'significant', but effect size is judged separately.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Case series
- A study collecting outcomes of multiple patients given the same treatment — more informative than a case report, but still without controls.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Preprint
- A manuscript shared before peer review — fast but unverified, so it should not be treated as established conclusion.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Serious adverse event (SAE)
- Serious adverse events including death, hospitalization, or disability — a must-check item in reports, with rates and treatment relation recorded.Source：PMDA ↗
- Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis
- Intention-to-treat analysis — analyzing everyone in their assigned groups including dropouts, giving a conservative real-world estimate.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Phase I/II/III trials
- Trial phases — Phase I safety (small), Phase II dose/efficacy signals, Phase III large-scale confirmation; passing III leads to approval review.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Systematic review
- A review collecting literature by explicit procedures and appraising quality — more reliable than a narrative review because criteria and methods are declared.Source：Cochrane ↗
- Participants' rights
- Rights of study participants — free consent, withdrawal at any time, privacy protection, and compensation for harm.Source：臨床研究法（e-Gov法令検索） ↗
- Prognosis
- The expected course of a disease — recovery, recurrence, survival — a basis for treatment decisions and a common study outcome.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Outcome measure
- The outcome measures a study tracks — symptoms, lab values, QOL, survival — explicitly defining what counts as benefit.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
- Response rate
- The proportion of patients responding to treatment — comparison is meaningless without knowing the response criteria used as denominator.Source：Cochrane 用語集 ↗
The body48
- Immunity
- The body's defense against bacteria, viruses, and foreign material — innate immunity (immediate) and adaptive immunity (memory-driven). In transplants it causes rejection; in infection, protection.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Inflammation
- The protective response to injury or foreign material — redness, heat, swelling, pain. Needed for repair, but prolonged chronic inflammation damages tissue and drives disease.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Cytokine
- Small signaling proteins cells release to regulate immunity and inflammation — the main actors in stem-cell paracrine effects.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Chemokine
- A cytokine type that attracts cells to specific sites — guiding immune cells and stem cells (homing) to inflamed areas.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Antigen & antibody
- Antigen = the marker the body recognizes as foreign; antibody = the protein binding it to aid removal — the basis of transfusion/transplant matching and vaccines.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Thrombus & embolism
- Thrombus = a blood clot in a vessel; embolus = it breaking off and blocking another vessel — clumps of cell products can act as small emboli.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Platelet
- The blood component that clots wounds — rich in growth factors and involved in starting repair, which is why it's used in PRP (platelet concentrate).Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Plasma
- The liquid part of blood, carrying proteins, clotting factors, and nutrients — the source of plasma products and PRP.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- PRP (platelet-rich plasma)
- Platelet-rich plasma made by centrifuging your own blood — contains growth factors; used in joint and skin procedures, with efficacy still being evaluated per application.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Collagen
- The main protein of the extracellular matrix — gives skin, bone, cartilage, and tendons their structure and strength; declines with age/injury; a key tissue-engineering material.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Cartilage
- The smooth tissue covering joint surfaces — avascular, so self-repair is weak; its poor healing makes it a target of regenerative medicine.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Epidermis & dermis
- Skin's structure — epidermis is the outer barrier layer (keratinocytes); dermis underneath holds fibroblasts, collagen, vessels, and nerves, relevant to wound healing and aesthetics.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Capillary
- The smallest vessels — the actual exchange site delivering oxygen/nutrients and removing waste, the final destination of blood supply to regenerating tissue.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Fibrosis
- The change where injured tissue is replaced by collagen scar instead of normal structure — a form of repair that reduces organ function.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- DNA & genes
- DNA = the chemical storing genetic information; genes = functional units within it — the blueprint of all cells and the target of gene therapy, genome editing, and iPS-cell generation.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Growth factor
- Proteins stimulating cell growth, differentiation, and repair (EGF, FGF, VEGF) — used in culture and tissue repair; a main component of stem-cell secretions.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Angiogenesis
- Formation of new blood vessels — needed to supply regenerating tissue but also feeds tumors, so control matters.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Receptor
- Cell-surface proteins receiving signals (hormones, cytokines) — drug and therapy targets that let effects act on specific cells.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Bone marrow
- The hematopoietic tissue inside bones — the blood-cell factory and the main collection site for hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells.Source：骨髄バンク（日本骨髄バンク） ↗
- Umbilical cord
- The tissue connecting fetus and placenta — a noted source of MSCs, collected non-invasively after birth.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Bone
- Hard connective tissue — cortical and trabecular bone enclosing marrow, constantly remodeled throughout life.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Skeletal muscle
- Voluntary muscle — contains satellite cells for repair after injury; its loss (sarcopenia) affects overall prognosis.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Nerve
- Tissue transmitting signals as electrical impulses — central (brain, spinal cord) and peripheral nerves; central regeneration is difficult, making it a key regenerative target.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Arteries & veins
- Arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart (thick walls); veins return it (valves, low pressure) — different features as administration routes.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Lymphatic vessels & nodes
- The channels and filters of immune cells — carrying lymph and serving as defense posts against infection and tumors; swelling can signal disease.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Spleen
- The upper-left abdominal organ for immunity and blood — processes old red cells and stores immune cells; removal increases infection susceptibility.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Liver
- The organ of metabolism, detoxification, and protein synthesis — highly regenerative, but chronic damage progresses to cirrhosis, a regenerative-medicine target.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Kidney
- The organ filtering blood to make urine — advanced chronic kidney disease requires dialysis or transplant; functional restoration is under study.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Pancreas
- The organ producing insulin and digestive enzymes — beta-cell destruction causes diabetes, and cell-based restoration is a research target.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Brain
- The center of the nervous system — limited neuronal regeneration makes injury recovery difficult; regenerative approaches to stroke and degeneration are under study.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Blood-brain barrier (BBB)
- The selective barrier around brain vessels — blocks harmful substances but also hinders delivery of therapeutics and cells to the brain.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Cornea
- The transparent front layer of the eye — avascular and clarity-critical; depletion of corneal epithelial stem cells causes clouding and vision loss; epithelial-regeneration therapy is already in use.Source：難病情報センター ↗
- Retina
- The light-sensing neural tissue inside the eye — damage in macular degeneration causes vision loss; iPS-derived retinal cell transplants are in clinical research.Source：難病情報センター ↗
- Insulin
- The blood-sugar-lowering hormone from pancreatic beta cells — deficiency or resistance causes diabetes; beta-cell replacement is a research focus.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Protein
- Macromolecules of amino acids — enzymes, structure, and signals shaping the body; secreted proteins mediate cell-therapy effects.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Amino acid
- The building units of proteins (20 types) — some made by the body, some essential from diet; a key medium component.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Enzyme
- Proteins catalyzing biological reactions — digestion, metabolism, DNA replication; failed regulation leads to disease.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Hormone
- Signaling substances released into blood by endocrine glands — regulating body functions in small amounts; excess/deficiency causes disease.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Immunoglobulin (antibody)
- Y-shaped proteins made by B cells (IgG, IgA, IgM) — bind antigens to neutralize and clear them; also used as therapeutics.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Inflammatory cytokine
- Pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) — needed for defense but harmful in excess/chronicity, targeted by blocking drugs.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Glucose (blood sugar)
- The sugar fueling the body, regulated by insulin — chronically high levels damage vessels, nerves, and immunity, also affecting cell-therapy outcomes.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Oxygenation & ischemia
- Oxygenation = delivering oxygen to tissue; ischemia = insufficient blood flow depriving it of oxygen — the reason blood supply matters for graft survival.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Mucus
- The sticky secretion covering mucosa — a barrier trapping and clearing foreign material in airways and gut; excess in chronic inflammation becomes symptomatic.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Chromosome
- Condensed DNA-protein structures (46 in humans) — karyotyping checks for abnormalities in quality and tumorigenicity assessment of cell products.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Genome
- The complete genetic information of a cell — accumulated mutations relate to cancer and aging; the target of genome editing.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- mRNA
- A temporary RNA copy of DNA instructions for making proteins — used in vaccines and transient protein expression, including cell modification.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Epigenetics
- Gene-activity regulation without changing DNA sequence (e.g., methylation) — active in iPS-cell reprogramming and influenced by aging and environment.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Sepsis
- A life-threatening state where the response to infection injures organs — a serious complication to watch in cell therapy; early detection and treatment decide outcomes.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
Regenerative technologies16
- Tissue engineering
- Tissue engineering — combining cells, scaffold materials, and signal factors to build tissue. Advancing in cell sheets and cartilage; securing vessels and nerves is the challenge.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Biomaterial
- Materials for use in or on the body — artificial cartilage, membranes, scaffolds — engineered for biocompatibility, degradability, and strength as scaffolds in tissue engineering.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Scaffold
- A scaffold letting cells attach and shape tissue — natural (collagen) or synthetic (PLA), engineered for cell positioning, differentiation, and vessel ingrowth.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Bioprinting
- 3D-printing tissues by layering cells and materials — a research-stage technology aiming for complex tissue structures.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Organoid
- Miniature organ-like tissues grown from stem cells — not real organs but used to model diseases and test drugs.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Gene therapy
- Treating disease by modifying genes or their expression — approved products exist, delivered via modified cells (CAR-T) or viral vectors.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Genome editing
- Technology cutting and modifying DNA at specific sites (CRISPR) — advancing therapeutically while germline application is internationally banned/restricted.Source：CiRA（京都大学iPS細胞研究所） ↗
- Conditional early approval
- A system approving promising therapies early on limited data — conditional on collecting confirmatory data; failure can mean withdrawal.Source：PMDA ↗
- GMP standards
- Good Manufacturing Practice — the quality-management standard for drugs; cell products face the same strict production/quality controls and facility checks.Source：PMDA ↗
- Sterility test
- Testing whether a cell product is free of microbial contamination — required before clinical release; contamination makes it unusable.Source：PMDA ↗
- Karyotype analysis
- Checking chromosome number/structure — periodically done on cell products to monitor culture-related changes and tumorigenicity risk.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Cell sorting
- Sorting cells by surface markers (e.g., FACS) — collects target cells and removes unwanted ones (e.g., undifferentiated) for quality control.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Cell sheet
- Technology harvesting cells as intact sheets from temperature-responsive dishes — applied/studied for myocardium, corneal epithelium, esophageal mucosa.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Bioreactor
- A device for large-scale cell/tissue culture — controlling oxygen, nutrients, and agitation to produce clinical quantities consistently.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- iPS cell stock
- A stock of iPS cells from donors with common HLA types (run by CiRA) — quickly supplying matched cells to reduce rejection and cost.Source：京都大学 iPS細胞研究財団 ↗
- Drug-discovery applications
- Using patient-derived iPS cells to model diseases and screen drug candidates — an application advancing faster than cell therapy itself.Source：CiRA（京都大学iPS細胞研究所） ↗
Tests & diagnosis17
- Blood test
- Basic tests measuring blood counts, liver/kidney function, inflammation, tumor markers — used to check pre-treatment safety and track course; abnormalities can affect eligibility.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Imaging
- Imaging to see inside the body — X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound — checking tissue shape, blood flow, tumors, and also used to assess effects.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Biomarker
- Measurable indicators of disease or state — proteins, cell counts, genetic markers — for diagnosis, effect assessment, and monitoring.Source：国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス ↗
- Biopsy
- Removing a tissue sample for microscopic examination — the key definitive test to confirm tumors and tissue state.Source：国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス ↗
- Infection screening
- Tests for viruses and bacteria (blood, swabs) — required before cell collection/transplant to confirm HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, etc.Source：厚生労働省「再生医療等の安全性の確保等に関する法律」 ↗
- ECG
- A test recording the heart's electrical activity — detects arrhythmia, ischemia, injury; especially important around cardiac therapies.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- CT & MRI
- Cross-sectional imaging — CT uses X-rays for fast bone/bleeding views; MRI uses magnetic fields for detailed soft tissue, brain, spinal cord.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Ultrasound
- Ultrasound imaging — real-time views of movement and blood flow without radiation, well suited to muscle, tendon, and joint assessment.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Pathology exam
- Microscopic examination of sampled tissue to determine cell shape/abnormalities — the definitive diagnosis and grading of tumors.Source：国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス ↗
- Tumor marker
- Blood tests measuring tumor-produced substances — not diagnostic alone; combined with imaging/pathology to monitor course and recurrence.Source：国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス ↗
- CRP / inflammatory markers
- Tests measuring inflammation markers such as CRP — gauge infection/inflammation/tissue-injury levels and monitor post-administration reactions.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Catheter
- A thin tube inserted into vessels or cavities — delivers cells/contrast and enables tests; essential for local therapies like arterial administration.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Genetic testing
- Tests examining DNA sequence and variants — for hereditary disease, tumor properties, matching (HLA); interpretation should be done with specialists.Source：国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス ↗
- Puncture & harvest
- Procedures drawing tissue/cells/fluid with a needle — marrow aspiration, joint puncture, biopsy; the basic collection step in cell therapy.Source：骨髄バンク（日本骨髄バンク） ↗
- Infectious-disease testing
- Infection screening of cell donors and products — viral nucleic acids and bacterial cultures — a quality step ensuring safe cells.Source：厚生労働省「再生医療等の安全性の確保等に関する法律」 ↗
- Immunostaining
- Staining specific proteins with antibodies to confirm cell type and state — used to verify differentiation is on track.Source：国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス ↗
- PET scan
- Imaging metabolic activity with radioactive tracers — strong for tumor spread and inflammation sites; also researched for tracking administered cells.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
Key conditions (incl. research targets)24
- Osteoarthritis
- A disease where joint cartilage wears down, progressing to bone changes, pain, and swelling — common with age; cell therapies are studied as complements to existing care (pain relief, exercise, replacement).Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Spinal cord injury
- Damage to the spinal cord causing loss of movement, sensation, bladder function — post-injury regeneration is hard; transplants of iPS-derived cells are in clinical research.Source：難病情報センター ↗
- Diabetes
- A disease of persistently high blood sugar — damaging vessels, nerves, kidneys and linked to refractory ulcers and ischemia; a regenerative-medicine research target.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Stroke
- A stroke — blocked (infarction) or ruptured (hemorrhage) brain vessels. Cell therapy for post-stroke recovery is research-stage; standard care (reperfusion, rehab) is central.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Heart failure
- The heart's pump failing to circulate blood — research on cardiac regeneration via iPS-derived myocardial sheets and cell transplantation is advancing.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Liver cirrhosis
- Advanced liver fibrosis from chronic damage — research includes portal-vein cell delivery, while standard care (treating causes, transplant) remains basic.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Corneal disease
- Corneal clouding, injury, or stem-cell depletion causing vision loss — autologous cultured epithelial transplantation for limbal stem-cell deficiency is an approved regenerative therapy.Source：難病情報センター ↗
- Parkinson's disease
- A degenerative disease losing dopamine-producing neurons — iPS-derived dopamine-neuron transplants are in clinical research.Source：難病情報センター ↗
- Leukemia & lymphoma
- Blood cancers — hematopoietic transplant is established, CAR-T approved; the most clinically realized regenerative-medicine field.Source：国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス ↗
- Aplastic anemia
- A disease where marrow fails to produce blood cells — hematopoietic transplant is a curative option alongside immunosuppression as standard care.Source：難病情報センター ↗
- Osteoporosis
- Bones becoming fragile and fracture-prone — caused by osteoclast/osteoblast imbalance; drug therapy is standard.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Immune-driven persistent joint inflammation and destruction — biologics are standard; stem-cell applications are research-stage.Source：難病情報センター ↗
- Burns
- Skin burn injuries — cultured autologous epidermal grafts are an established regenerative therapy for extensive burns.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Refractory ulcer
- Hard-to-heal skin ulcers from diabetes or poor circulation — cell sheets and PRP are studied/applied, while cause treatment and wound care are basic.Source：難病情報センター ↗
- Myocardial infarction
- Heart muscle dying from a blocked coronary artery — dead tissue doesn't regrow, so cell transplants for functional recovery are under study.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Peripheral artery disease
- Narrowed leg arteries reducing blood flow — regenerative therapy (angiogenesis-promoting cells) for critical limb ischemia is studied.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Alzheimer's disease
- Progressive memory/cognitive loss — existing drugs slow progression; cell therapy is basic-research stage.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Macular degeneration
- Damage to the retina's center (macula) — iPS-derived retinal pigment epithelium transplants are in clinical research.Source：難病情報センター ↗
- Kidney failure
- Failing kidney function — dialysis and transplant are standard; regeneration research is basic-stage.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- An autoimmune disease attacking myelin — hematopoietic transplant as a reset is an option; disease-modifying drugs are standard.Source：難病情報センター ↗
- ALS
- Progressive loss of motor neurons — cause unknown; iPS-derived cell therapy is research-stage.Source：難病情報センター ↗
- Atopic dermatitis
- Chronic skin-barrier dysfunction with recurring inflammation — standard care (moisture, steroids, biologics) is central; stem-cell use is research-stage.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- COPD
- Airway/alveolar damage mainly from smoking — smoking cessation, drugs, rehab are standard; MSC applications are research-stage.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Limbal stem-cell deficiency
- Loss of corneal epithelial stem cells causing clouding/vascularization — autologous cultured epithelial transplant is an approved, practiced regenerative therapy.Source：難病情報センター ↗
Drugs & general care13
- Prescription drug
- Drugs requiring a physician's prescription — issued after examination with pharmacist checks; self-directed use is not permitted.Source：PMDA ↗
- Antibiotic
- Drugs killing or stopping bacteria — ineffective on viruses; misuse breeds resistant bacteria, so adherence to duration and dose matters.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Steroid
- Corticosteroids with strong anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive effects — quickly control inflammation, but long-term use risks infection, osteoporosis, and blood-sugar effects.Source：PMDA 副作用被害救済制度 ↗
- Immunosuppressant
- Drugs weakening immunity to control rejection/inflammation (calcineurin inhibitors, steroids) — used in allogeneic grafts and autoimmune disease, requiring infection-risk management.Source：国立がん研究センター がん情報サービス ↗
- Anticoagulant
- Blood-thinning drugs (warfarin, DOACs) preventing clots — require hold decisions before procedures due to bleeding risk.Source：PMDA 副作用被害救済制度 ↗
- Analgesic
- Pain medications (NSAIDs, acetaminophen, opioids) — used with treatment of the cause; long-term use needs kidney/liver/dependence caution.Source：PMDA 副作用被害救済制度 ↗
- Anesthesia
- Techniques controlling pain and consciousness — local, IV sedation, general anesthesia — used to ease collection and surgery.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Blood transfusion
- Transfusing blood components (red cells, platelets, plasma) from donors — requires infection screening, type matching, and consent; watch for reactions.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Outpatient vs inpatient
- Outpatient = clinic visits; inpatient = hospital stays. Most cell therapies are outpatient, but some collections/monitoring require admission.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Referral letter
- A referral letter from your doctor to a specialist — conveys history, medications, and test results accurately for new providers.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Follow-up visits
- Regular follow-up visits after treatment — to assess effects, catch adverse events early, and decide on further administration.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Vaccine
- Preparations teaching immunity to prevent infections — timing around immunosuppression and post-vaccine immune-low periods matters.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Antibacterial & antiviral drugs
- Drugs suppressing bacteria or viruses — antibacterials target bacteria, antivirals target viruses; choice depends on the purpose.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
Lifestyle & health16
- Lifestyle-related disease
- Diseases linked to habits like diet, exercise, smoking (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia) — baseline management affects overall treatment outcomes.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Frailty
- Pre-disability decline in strength, mobility, and social function with age — evaluation of muscle, nutrition, activity plus early intervention prevents progression.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Sarcopenia
- Age-related loss of muscle mass and strength — directly tied to treatment tolerance and recovery; addressed via nutrition, exercise, and disease management.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- ADL (activities of daily living)
- Independence in daily activities — eating, moving, toileting, bathing — used as an index of treatment effect, care needs, and prognosis.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- QOL (quality of life)
- Quality of life — physical, psychological, and social well-being; evaluating treatment value in real life, not only numbers.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Rehabilitation
- Therapy retraining lost function — physical, occupational, speech — important as a partner that brings out cell-therapy effects.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Exercise therapy
- Exercise therapy restoring strength, flexibility, and joint function — a standard for joint disease and a foundation before/after cell therapy.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Nutritional status
- The state of protein, vitamin, and energy intake/absorption — underpins wound healing, immunity, muscle; the foundation of treatment results.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Sleep
- Rest essential for recovery, immunity, and hormonal regulation — poor sleep raises inflammation and slows recovery; good sleep is part of treatment.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Smoking
- The largest modifiable risk harming vessels, immunity, and wound healing — smoking lowers treatment effect and raises complications, so cessation is advised before therapy.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Obesity
- Excess weight raising health risks — related to joint load, chronic inflammation, and diabetes, also affecting treatment outcomes including regenerative care.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Chronic inflammation
- Persistent low-level inflammation — linked to atherosclerosis, cancer, and aging; diet, exercise, and smoking cessation are the basic countermeasures.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Underlying condition
- Pre-existing conditions (hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease) — they determine treatment eligibility, risk, and drug interactions, so always assessed.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Long-term care
- Care for those needing daily support — relates to ADL assessment, long-term care insurance, and environment, also supporting post-treatment recovery.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Health check & screening
- Screening exams for early detection (cancer screening, health checkups) — early detection widens treatment options.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Metabolic syndrome
- A cluster of elevated waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipids — a strong atherosclerosis risk; lifestyle improvement is the basis of care.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
Skin & aesthetics10
- Hyaluronic acid
- A water-holding polysaccharide in skin and joint fluid — used in injections and cosmetics; degraded in the body, so effects are temporary.Source：日本再生医療学会 ↗
- Elastin
- An elastic fibrous protein in skin, vessels, and lungs — declines with age, reducing tissue elasticity.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Stratum corneum
- The outermost epidermal layer of dead keratinized cells — the barrier against water loss and foreign material, renewed by turnover.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Melanin
- Skin and hair pigment — protects DNA from UV, but excess or uneven deposition causes spots and dullness.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Skin turnover
- The renewal cycle of epidermal cells (about 28 days in health) — disruption relates to keratin thickening, dryness, and spots.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Ultraviolet (UV)
- Solar energy rays — thickens keratin and raises melanin; long-term it drives photoaging and skin-cancer risk, so protection is advised.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Photoaging
- Progressive skin aging from UV exposure — the main driver of wrinkles, spots, sagging; UV protection is the surest countermeasure.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Antioxidant
- The function of suppressing oxidative stress (reactive oxygen) — refers to body systems and dietary antioxidants, used in 'anti-aging' contexts.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Moisturizing
- Care keeping skin moisture — maintains barrier function, preventing dryness and inflammation; the most basic dermatological care.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
- Sebum
- Oil from sebaceous glands — part of the surface barrier and hair moisture; excess relates to acne and seborrheic dermatitis.Source：厚生労働省 e-ヘルスネット ↗
Word meanings can shift with context. If a term in a treatment explanation is unclear, ask the provider directly.