Molecular characterization of lipoaspirate-derived adipose mesenchymal stem cells in wound healing

Introduction:

Adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ASCs) are used in regenerative medicine for years, more recently and increasingly in head and neck surgery. Lipoaspiration with centrifugation is supposed to be a mild method for the extraction of ASCs that can be used for autologous transplants to restore tissue defects or induce wound healing. Proof of ASCs, their ability to differentiate, and the molecular potential in wound healing are still not provided for this method.

Methods:

Excessive material from lipoaspirates out of the subcutaneous abdominal fatty tissue of 6 patients, who received autologous injections in the head and neck area. Cells were cultivated in explant cultures and analyzed for molecular stem cell markers using immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Cells were cultivated with special medium to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. Supernatants of the explant cultures were tested for TNF, VEGF, SDF-1alpha, and TGF-beta3 using ELISA.

Results:

The cultivated cells had high expression of CD105, CD73, and CD90 and no expression of CD45, CD14, and HLA-DR. They differentiated into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes respectively. The cells fulfilled the ISCT-criteria for mesenchymal stem cells. The supernatants were negative for TNF and positive for VEGF, SDF-1alpha, and TGF-beta3.

Conclusions:

The lipoaspirates contained ASCs, that have potential to multi-differentiate. The cytokine-profile has non-inflammatory, neo-angiogenetic and wound-healing-supporting features. These findings emphasize the great potential of lipoaspirates in regenerative head and neck surgery.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)