Adult human subcutaneous adipose tissue contains cells with intriguing multilineage developmental plasticity, much like marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Putative stem or progenitor cells from fat have been given many different names in the literature, reflecting an early and evolving consensus regarding their phenotypic characterization. The study reported here used microarrays to evaluate over 170 genes relating to angiogenesis and extracellular matrix in undifferentiated, early-passage human adipose-derived adherent stromal (hADAS) cells isolated from three separate donors. The hADAS populations unanimously transcribed 66% of the screened genes, and 83% were transcribed by at least two of the three populations. The most highly transcribed genes relate to functional groupings such as cell adhesion, matrix proteins, growth factors and receptors, and proteases. The transcriptome of hADAS cells demonstrated by this work reveals many similarities to published profiles of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).In addition, flow analysis of over 24 hADAS cell surface proteins (n = 7 donors) both confirms and expands on the existing literature and reveals strong intergroup correlation, despite an inconsistent nomenclature and the lack of standardized protocols for cell isolation and culture. Finally, based on flow analysis and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction studies, our results suggest that hADAS cells do not express several proteins that are implicated as markers of "stemness" in other stem cell populations, including telomerase, CD133, and the membrane transporter ABCG2. Stem Cells 2005;23:412-423

CT and MR angiography are noninvasive techniques that are well suited to follow patients after coarctation repair.

The calvarial bone microenvironment contains a unique progenitor niche that should be considered for therapeutic manipulation when designing regeneration strategies. Recently, our group demonstrated that cells isolated from the dura are multipotent and exhibit expansion potential and robust mineralization on biodegradable constructs in vitro. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of healing critical-sized cranial bone defects by enhancing microvascular network growth and host dura progenitor trafficking to the defect space pharmacologically by delivering drugs targeted to sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptors. We demonstrate that delivery of pharmacological agonists to (S1P) receptors S1P 1 and S1P 3 significantly increase bone ingrowth, total microvessel density, and smooth muscle cell investment on nascent microvessels within the defect space. Further, in vitro proliferation and migration studies suggest that selective activation of S1P 3 promotes recruitment and growth of osteoblastic progenitors from the meningeal dura mater.

Although levels of plasma clotting factors are reduced in storage, therapeutic levels of FV and FVIII are maintained in thawed plasma stored for up to 10 days at 1 to 6°C. Thawing of FFP at 45°C decreases thawing time but does not affect the activity of FV, FVII, and FVIII.