Characteristics of stem cells derived from rat fascia: In vitro proliferative and multilineage potential assessment

Abstract

Fascia‑derived stem cells (FDSCs) were previously isolated from the fascia of the gluteus maximus of the rat. However, the use of FDSCs as a cell source for musculoskeletal tissue engineering has not been compared with that of adipose‑derived stem cells (ADSCs) and bone marrow‑derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and self‑renewal stem cell markers, proliferative capacity and multilineage differentiation potential of these stem cells in vitro. The MSC and embryonic stem cell (ESC) marker profiles were compared using flow cytometry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Their proliferative capacities were compared using 5‑bromo‑2'‑deoxyuridine and MTT assays. Their osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potentials were compared using standard staining assays and qPCR. The FDSCs possessed similar cell morphology and immunophenotypic profiles with BMSCs and ADSCs. FDSCs demonstrated a similar expression pattern of ESC markers with ADSCs, which has higher expression of sex determining region Y‑box (Sox)2 and octamer‑binding transcription factor 4, and lower expression of Krüppel‑like factor 4, when compared with BMSCs. FDSCs exhibited higher proliferation under serum‑deprived conditions (0.5% FBS growth medium), and attained higher expression levels of collagen type I, α 2 and type II, α 1 as well as Sox9 mRNA than ADSCs and BMSCs upon chondrogenic induction. An increased amount of proteoglycan deposition was also observed in the FDSC group. However, lower levels of adipogenic and osteogenic marker expression in FDSCs were detected compared with ADSCs and BMSCs upon adipogenic and osteogenic induction, respectively. FDSCs possessed high chondrogenic potential, low osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential and were responsive to the induction signals for collagen‑rich fascial structure regeneration. Therefore, FDSCs may represent an improved alternative cell source to conventional ADSCs and BMSCs for musculoskeletal tissue repair and tissue engineering, particularly for collagen‑rich structures with poor vasculature.

Fascia Origin of Adipose Cells

“…Li et al reported that cells isolated from epimysial and perimysial fasciae of the rat gluteus maximus have only chondrogenic potential. Wong et al observed that this epimysial type of fascial cells possess high chondrogenic but low osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation . These two studies are inconsistent, and distinct from our observations, possibly because the fascial cells they tested were from muscle epimysium and perimysium, and were subject to serial subcultures.…”

Gene‐activated tissue grafts for sustained bone morphogenetic protein‐2 delivery and bone engineering: Is muscle with fascia superior to muscle and fat?

“…Wong et al explored the characteristics of rat fascia‐derived stem cells (Wong et al, ). Cells were isolated from rat fascia and stimulated to differentiate into the chondrogenic, osteogenic, and adipogenic lineage.…”

Micrographic Surgery Allows Fascia Preservation in Dermatofibro­sarcoma Protuberans

“…It has been shown that preservation of the fascia reduces the incidence of postoperative lymphoedema after lymph node dissection ( 27 ) and leads to fewer seromas, less time until drain removal, drain output and shorter hospital stay after abdominoplasty ( 28 ). In addition, fascia-derived stem cells may represent a source for musculoskeletal tissue repair ( 29 ) and it has been shown that scars are more severe when the fascia is injured surgically ( 30 ).…”