Human adipose tissue stem cells: relevance in the pathophysiology of obesity and metabolic diseases and therapeutic applications

Abstract

Stem cells are unique cells exhibiting self-renewing properties and the potential to differentiate into multiple specialised cell types. Totipotent or pluripotent stem cells are generally abundant in embryonic or fetal tissues, but the use of discarded embryos as sources of these cells raises challenging ethical problems. Adult stem cells can also differentiate into a wide variety of cell types. In particular, adult adipose tissue contains a pool of abundant and accessible multipotent stem cells, designated as adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), that are able to replicate as undifferentiated cells, to develop as mature adipocytes and to differentiate into multiple other cell types along the mesenchymal lineage, including chondrocytes, myocytes and osteocytes, and also into cells of endodermal and neuroectodermal origin, including beta-cells and neurons, respectively. An impairment in the differentiation potential and biological functions of ASCs may contribute to the development of obesity and related comorbidities. In this review, we summarise different aspects of the ASCs with special reference to the isolation and characterisation of these cell populations, their relation to the biochemical features of the adipose tissue depot of origin and to the metabolic characteristics of the donor subject and discuss some prospective therapeutic applications.

Comparison of Markers and Functional Attributes of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells and Dedifferentiated Adipocyte Cells from Subcutaneous Fat of an Obese Diabetic Donor

“…This may reflect the fact that the patient was obese and diabetic, and ADSCs from obese patients are less likely to differentiate. [19][20][21][22] However, increasing stem cell potential for adipocyte and osteoblast formation by dedifferentiating mature adipocytes to DFAT cells is a novel finding. It is mimetic of the effect of weight loss in postgastric bypass subjects.…”

Isolation and characterization of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells in nasal polyps

“…3 Three major accessible sources of autologous adult stem cells in the clinic are the bone marrow, adipose tissue, and blood. Stem cells can be isolated from various tissues and organs, including nervous tissues, 4 skin, 5 adipose tissue, 6 tendons, 7 and synovial membranes. 8 Bone marrow-derived MSCs are the best-characterized MSC population.…”

Determining residual adipose tissue characteristics with MRI in patients with various subtypes of lipodystrophy

“…Adipose tissue is generally regarded as being of mesodermal origin (20). Mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into adipocytes (21). However, it is not clear if different adipose depots arise from distinct types of adipoblasts or pre-adipocytes.…”