Human Adipose Stem Cells: A Potential Cell Source for Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Background/Aims: A crucial step in providing clinically relevant applications of cardiovascular tissue engineering involves the identification of a suitable cell source. The objective of this study was to identify the exogenous and endogenous parameters that are critical for the differentiation of human adipose stem cells (hASCs) into cardiovascular cells. Methods: hASCs were isolated from human lipoaspirate samples, analyzed, and subjected to two differentiation protocols. Results: As shown by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis, a population of hASCs expressed stem cell markers including CXCR4, CD34, c-kit, and ABCG2. Further, FACS and immunofluorescence analysis of hASCs, cultured for 2 weeks in DMEM-20%-FBS, showed the expression of smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific markers including SM α-actin, basic calponin, h-caldesmon and SM myosin. hASCs, cultured for 2 weeks in endothelial cell growth medium-2 (EGM-2), formed a network of branched tube-like structures positive for CD31, CD144, and von Willebrand factor. The frequency of endothelial cell (EC) marker-expressing cells was passage number-dependent. Moreover, hASCs attached and formed a confluent layer on top of electrospun collagen-elastin scaffolds. Scanning electron microscopy and DAPI staining confirmed the integration of hASCs with the fibers and formation of a cell-matrix network. Conclusion: Our results indicate that hASCs are a potential cell source for cardiovascular tissue engineering; however, the differentiation capacity of hASCs into SMCs and ECs is passage number- and culture condition-dependent.

Manual Isolation of Adipose-derived Stem Cells from Human Lipoaspirates

“…Chondrogenic differentiation under high-density micromass conditions produces pellets that contain sulfated proteoglycans (detected using an Alcian Blue stain) and express collagen type 2 5 . Both skeletal muscle and smooth muscle differentiation can be seen with ASCs staining for skeletal muscle myosin and MyoD1 and smooth muscle actin 5,13,14 . Differentiation into the ectodermal lineage is suggested through the assumption of a neuronal-like morphology by induced ASCs and the expression of numerous neuronal markers, including that of NeuN, a neuronal transcription factor …”

Three-dimensional electrospun ECM-based hybrid scaffolds for cardiovascular tissue engineering

“…Human adipose derived stem cells (hASCs) were prepared as we have previously described [35] and were seeded at passage 2 onto the electrospun scaffolds at a density of 10 6 cells/ cm 2 to reach a confluent cell layer. The hASC-seeded scaffolds were then cultured for 2 weeks under dynamic conditions in DMEM-10% FBS at 37°C and 5% CO 2 .…”

Stem cells from adipose tissue

“…Thus, vascularization of regenerated tissues is an important field of research. It has been reported that human ASCs have the potential for endothelial differentiation [27,34,[62][63][64][65][66] and can participate in blood vessel formation. ASCs are a possible cell source for vessel regeneration, as they are able to secrete a number of proangiogenic factors, like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) [67,68].…”