2010 Nicolas Andry Award: Multipotent adult stem cells from adipose tissue for musculoskeletal tissue engineering.
BACKGROUND
Cell-based therapies such as tissue engineering provide promising therapeutic possibilities to enhance the repair or regeneration of damaged or diseased tissues but are dependent on the availability and controlled manipulation of appropriate cell sources.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that adult subcutaneous fat contains stem cells with multilineage potential and to determine the influence of specific soluble mediators and biomaterial scaffolds on their differentiation into musculoskeletal phenotypes.


METHODS
We reviewed recent studies showing the stem-like characteristics and multipotency of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), and their potential application in cell-based therapies in orthopaedics.


RESULTS
Under controlled conditions, ASCs show phenotypic characteristics of various cell types, including chondrocytes, osteoblasts, adipocytes, neuronal cells, or muscle cells. In particular, the chondrogenic differentiation of ASCs can be induced by low oxygen tension, growth factors such as bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6), or biomaterial scaffolds consisting of native tissue matrices derived from cartilage. Finally, focus is given to the development of a functional biomaterial scaffold that can provide ASC-based constructs with mechanical properties similar to native cartilage.


CONCLUSIONS
Adipose tissue contains an abundant source of multipotent progenitor cells. These cells show cell surface marker profiles and differentiation characteristics that are similar to but distinct from other adult stem cells, such as bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).


CONCLUSIONS
The availability of an easily accessible and reproducible cell source may greatly facilitate the development of new cell-based therapies for regenerative medicine applications in the musculoskeletal system.
Guilak
Farshid
F
Departments of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. guilak@duke.edu
Estes
Bradley T
BT
Diekman
Brian O
BO
Moutos
Franklin T
FT
Gimble
Jeffrey M
JM
D000328:Adult; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001363:Awards and Prizes; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D020219:Chondrogenesis; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000166:cytology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D012038:Regeneration; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000166:cytology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010100:Oxygen