How do Stem Cells Work?
Autologous adult stem and regenerative
cells are thought to promote healing of scarred or injured tissue. It is
believed that this heterogeneous population of cells influences the local
environment via cell-to-cell signaling, immune modulation, and differentiation
into other cell types. In Cosmetic Applications, they are believed to help the
transplanted fat survive better.
In addition, the extracellular matrix of harvested
adipose tissue contains different types of Collagen such as Types 1, 3-4, 7,
14-15, 18 and 27 to name a few. This is important, in Fat Transfer protocol
where freshly isolated fat is used as a filler in breast, buttock, or face augmentation
or post-lumpectomy reconstruction of the breast and in the augmentation of the
penis, and where collagen provides the structural support required for cell
survival.
Furthermore, the extracellular matrix plays
an important role in adipocyte endocrine secretions, and release of growth
factors such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß), platelet-derived
growth factor (PDGF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF), among others all of
which are contained in what is called the Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF). The
SVF also contains the various proteins present in the adipose tissue
extracellular matrix of which Laminin is of interest due to its ability to help
in neural regeneration.
The cellular composition of the SVF ranges
from pre-adipocytes to endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, pericytes,
fibroblasts, and AT-ASCs. Typically, the SVF also contains blood cells from the
capillaries supplying the fat cells. These include erythrocytes, B and T cells,
macrophages, monocytes, mast cells, natural killer (NK) cells, hematopoietic
stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells, to name a few. The latter two
types of cells, namely the hematopoietic stem cells and endothelial progenitor
cells play important roles in supporting the viability of existing blood
vessels and helping create new ones respectively.
These other ingredients that make up the
SVF ‘cocktail’ act as an adjuvant to further augment the effect of the
autologous transplant of SVF AT-ASCs.
Brief methodology for the Adipose derived Stem
Cell therapy:
