LUCA Science Announces Oral Presentation at the 21st Japanese Society of Mitochondrial Research and Medicine (J-mit) Annual Meeting
LUCA Science (LUCA), a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering a unique modality with intracellular mitochondria organelles as bio-therapeutics, announced the company and its collaborator will give oral presentations at the upcoming 21st J-mit Annual meeting in Tokyo, Japan on March 16-17, 2023.
LUCA will provide the characterization of its proprietary mitochondria (Q) isolated by intact Mitochondria Isolation Technology (i-MIT) on March 16 (Thu) - 17:00. LUCA’s collaborator Dr. Ritsuko Nakai from the Department of Hematology and Oncology of Osaka University, will present the treatment effect of Q on mitochondrial deficiency animal model on March 17 (Fri) - 09:00.
Presentation details are as follows:
1. Characterization of Isolated Mitochondria by i-MIT method
This presentation highlights that Q can be stored in freezing conditions while maintaining high quality, compared to homogenized mitochondria. Even after undergoing freeze storage and thawing, Q demonstrated high production of ATP, mtDNA, and preserved outer/inner membrane integrity. Significant incorporation of Q into recipient cells was confirmed 2-4 hours after incubation using fluorescent tagged Q.
2. Development of a novel treatment approach of Mitochondrial disease (Leigh syndrome)
This presentation highlights that administrating Q isolated from HeLa cells intravenously in Leigh syndrome mice model (Ndufs4 KO mice) with Mitochondrial Respiratory Complex I deficiency, significantly improved the neurological symptoms and survival period (control: 53 days, Q-treated: 78 days) of the Q-treated arm.
In general, Ndufs4 KO mice die at 50-70 days of age due to chronic inflammation in the brain that induces convulsions and respiratory failure. Analysis of the cerebellum of Ndufs4 KO mice showed that abnormal microglial cells were proliferated and activated. The results above suggest a potential new therapeutic approach for Leigh syndrome.
Dr. Nakai received the “Award for Excellent Presentation by Young Researchers” from the Japanese Society of Mitochondrial Research and Medicine with this presentation.
For more information on the 21st J-mit, see here: