title: Qualitative and quantitative differences of adipose-derived stromal cells from superficial and deep subcutaneous lipoaspirates: a matter of fat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Subcutaneous fat represents a valuable reservoir of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), widely exploited in regenerative medicine applications, being easily harvested through lipoaspiration. The lack of standardized procedures for autologous fat grafting guided research efforts aimed at identifying possible differences related to the harvesting site, which may affect cell isolation yield, cell growth properties and clinical outcomes. Subcutaneous fat features a complex architecture: the superficial fascia separates superficial adipose tissue (SAT) from deep layer tissue (DAT). We aimed to unravel the differences between SAT and DAT, considering morphological structure, SVF composition, and ASC properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  SAT and DAT were collected from female donors and comparatively analyzed to evaluate cellular yield and viability, morphology, immunophenotype and molecular profile. ASCs were isolated in primary culture and used for in vitro differentiation assays. SAT and DAT from cadaver donors were also analyzed through histology and immunohistochemistry to assess morphology and cell localization within the hypoderm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liposuctioned SAT contained a higher stromal tissue compound, along with a higher proportion of CD105-positive cells, compared with DAT from the same harvesting site. Also, cells isolated from SAT displayed increased multipotency and stemness features. All differences were mainly evidenced in specimens harvested from the abdominal region. According to our results, SAT features overall increased stem properties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given that subcutaneous adipose tissue is currently exploited as the gold standard source for high-yield isolation of adult stem cells, these results may provide precious hints toward the definition of standardized protocols for microharvesting.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore University Hospital A. Gemelli Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Taranto
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cicione
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore University Hospital A. Gemelli Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Visconti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore University Hospital A. Gemelli Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Isgrò
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barba
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore University Hospital A. Gemelli Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Stasio
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Egidio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stigliano
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernardini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; Latium Musculoskeletal Tissue Bank, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Michetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore University Hospital A. Gemelli Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salgarello
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; Latium Musculoskeletal Tissue Bank, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: wanda.lattanzi@rm.unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lattanzi
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D000328:Adult; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: adipose-derived stem cells; regenerative medicine; stemness; subcutaneous adipose tissue