Adipose tissue engineering from human adult stem cells: clinical implications in plastic and reconstructive surgery

Despite certain levels of clinical efficacy, current autografts and synthetic materials for soft-tissue reconstruction and/or augmentation suffer from donor-site morbidity, rupture, dislocation, and volume reduction. Human adult stem cells can self-replicate and differentiate into adipogenic cells in response to appropriate signaling cues. This study investigated the shape and dimension maintenance of engineered adipose tissue from adult human mesenchymal stem cells.

Human mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from bone marrow of a healthy donor and differentiated into adipogenic cells. Adipocytes derived from these cells were encapsulated in a poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogel shaped into a generic cylinder (n = 6 implants), with hydrogel encapsulating human mesenchymal stem cells (n = 6) and cell-free hydrogel (n = 6) as controls. Porous collagen sponges were also used to seed human mesenchymal stem cell-derived adipocytes (n = 6), human mesenchymal stem cells (n = 4), or without cells (n = 4). All poly(ethylene glycol) and collagen constructs were implanted subcutaneously in athymic mice for 4 weeks.

In vivo grafts demonstrated the formation of substantial adipose tissue encapsulating human mesenchymal stem cell-derived adipogenic cells in either poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogel or collagen sponge and a lack of adipose tissue formation in cell-free or human mesenchymal stem cell-derived grafts. Engineered adipose tissue in poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogel maintained approximately 100 percent of the original dimensions after 4-week in vivo implantation, significantly higher than the approximately 35 to 65 percent volume retention by collagen sponge.

These findings demonstrate that the predefined shape and dimensions of adipose tissue engineered from human mesenchymal stem cells can be maintained after in vivo implantation. These data further indicate the potential for autologous applications in reconstructive and plastic surgery procedures.