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Updated: Apr 12, 2026
Differentiation Capacity of Human Aortic Perivascular Adipose Progenitor Cells
Published on: March 5, 2019
Brown adipocytes, cardiac protection and a common adipo- and myogenic stem precursor in aged human hearts
M C Rusu1, A D Vrapciu2, S Hostiuc3
1Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; MEDCENTER, Center of Excellence in Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Bucharest, Romania; International Society of Regenerative Medicine and Surgery (ISRMS), Romania.
Insights
Adult stem cells (ASCs) in brown adipose tissue (BAT) can differentiate into cardiomyocytes, offering potential for cardiac stem cell therapy. Researchers hypothesize subepicardial CSCs in adult hearts may differentiate into BAT, mirroring embryonic development for cardiac protection.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular research
- Stem cell biology
- Regenerative medicine
Background:
- Adult stem cells (ASCs) are crucial for regenerative medicine, but organ-specific markers remain underexplored.
- Brown adipose tissue (BAT)-derived CD133+ cells can differentiate into cardiomyocytes, showing promise for cardiac stem cell therapy.
- Embryonically, subepicardial fat originates from BAT, and metabolically active BAT is found in adult humans, potentially derived from stem cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis of subepicardial differentiation of cardiac stem cells (CSCs) into brown adipose tissue (BAT) in adult/aged human hearts.
- To explore the potential reactivation of embryonic differentiation patterns in adult hearts.
- To identify potential quiescent common stem cell ancestors in adult hearts.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing Stro-1 to identify in situ cardiac stem cells (CSCs) with myogenic and adipogenic potential.
- Investigating the presence and characteristics of subepicardial BAT in adult/aged human hearts.
- Determining the phenotype of CSCs, specifically looking for Stro-1+/CD133+/Isl-1+ markers.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that non-cardiac brown adipose tissue (BAT) CD133+ cells differentiate into cardiomyocytes.
- Showed that BAT-derived cells can induce bone marrow-derived cells into cardiomyocytes.
- Proposed that Stro-1 identifies in situ CSCs with myogenic and adipogenic potential.
Conclusions:
- Subepicardial CSCs in adult/aged hearts may differentiate into BAT, potentially serving a protective role similar to infants.
- This differentiation could involve the reactivation of embryonic pathways where brown adipocytes and muscle cells share a common stem ancestor.
- The presence of subepicardial BAT in adult hearts, coupled with a Stro-1+/CD133+/Isl-1+ CSC phenotype, suggests the existence of quiescent common stem ancestors.
Abstract:
New data on adult stem cells (ASCs) are continuously added by research for use in regenerative medicine. However organ-specific ASC markers are incompletely explored. It was demonstrated that in non-cardiac brown adipose tissue (BAT) CD133+ cells differentiate in cardiomyocytes, and such BAT-derived cells induce bone marrow-derived cells into cardiomyocytes, thus being a promising source for cardiac stem cell therapy. During embryogenesis the subepicardial fat derives from BAT. Although it was not specifically investigated in human adult or aged hearts, it is actually known that metabolically active BAT can be found in many adult humans, is related to antiobesity effects, and it may derive from stem/progenitor cells. Stro-1 can safely identify in situ cardiac stem cells (CSCs) with myogenic and adipogenic potential. It was therefore raised the hypothesis of subepicardial differentiation of CSCs in BAT in adult/aged hearts, which could be viewed, such as in infants, as a mechanism of protection. This could be determined by the reactivation of an embryologic differentiation pattern in which brown adipocytes and muscle cells derive from a common stem ancestor. Such quiescent common stem ancestors could be suggested in adult, or aged, human hearts, when subepicardial BAT is found, and if a Stro-1+/CD133+/Isl-1+ phenotype of CSCs is determined.
