Why Adipose (Fat) Derived Adult Stem Cells?
Adipose tissue ASCs (AT-ASCs) are extremely
similar to stem cells isolated from bone marrow (BMSCs). The use of Stem Cells
derived from fat or adipose tissue is a unique and promising approach and holds
key advantages over stem and regenerative cells from other sources. While stem
and progenitor cells usually make up less than 5% of all ADSCs, this is
2,500-fold more than the frequency of such cells in tissues such as bone marrow
(0.002%). The abundance of ADSCs in adipose tissue and the ability to easily
collect large amounts of adipose tissue via liposuction eliminates the need for
tissue culturing.
Adult Stem Cells (ASCs/ ADSCs), by
definition, are unspecialized or undifferentiated cells that not only retain
their ability to divide mitotically while still maintaining their
undifferentiated state but also given the right conditions, have the ability to
differentiate into different types of cells including cells of different
germ-origin – an ability referred to as transdifferentiation or plasticity.
Though the exact mechanism of
transdifferentiation of ADSCs is still under debate, this ability of ADSCs
along with their ability to self-renew is of great interest in the field of
Regenerative Medicine as a therapeutic tool in being able to regenerate and
replace dying, damaged or diseased tissue.
Clinically, however, there are a few
criteria that ADSCs need to fulfill before they can be viewed as a viable
option in Regenerative Medicine. These are as follows
1. Abundance in numbers (millions to billions of cells)
2. Ease of harvest (through minimally invasive procedures)
3. Ability to differentiate into multiple cell types (which can be
regulated and reproduced in vitro)
4. Safe to transplant to a different site of the autologous host or
even an allogenic host.
5. No conflict with current Good Manufacturing Principles (during
procurement, culture or transplantation)