Stem cells therapy: the future in the management of systemic sclerosis? A case report

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder of unknown etiology, with heterogeneous clinical manifestations and chronic and often progressive course. The diffuse cutaneous form of SSc (dcSSc) is characterized by thickening of the skin (scleroderma) and distinctive involvement of multiple internal organs. Patients with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) generally have long-standing Raynaud's phenomenon before other manifestations of SSc appear. Over the last decade the Interest of adipose-derived cell therapy in regenerative medicine has increased continuously. In compare to bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are considered to be ideal for application in regenerative medicine. Zuk et al., introduced a multipotent, undifferentiated, self-renewing progenitor cell population isolated from adipose tissue, called processed lipoaspirate (PLA). However, subcutaneous injections of autologous adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction (ADSVF), which is known to contain mesenchymal stem cells, in hands of Patients with scleroderma for enhancing their impaired hand function is still in an experimental stage, although there are already promising results of the therapy. Commonly available therapeutic options for hands of Patients with systemic sclerosis, vasodilatator drugs and physiotherapy, have many restriction and limited effects.

A 62 years old woman with scleroderma presented with progressive digital necrosis, ulceration, gangrene and impaired wound healing, despite of conventional therapy with vasodilatator drugs. Water-jet-Assisted Liposuction (Body-jet® evo, human med AG, Schwerin, Germany) of subcutaneous abdominal fat was carried out under general anesthesia by an experienced surgeon. Autologous adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction (ADSVF) was harvested by in a single-use Q-graft® collector (human med AG, Schwerin, Germany). Cells were centrifuged in 400G for 5 minutes and cell pellets were aspirated carefully in a 20mL syringe filled with 0.9% NaCl. A total of ca. 2.72 million cells have been isolated. Meanwhile middle phalangeal amputation of digit 2, 3 and 4 of the left hand were performed, without closing the skin of the amputation stumps. The SVF cell suspension was injected subcutaneous into the area of metacarpophalangeal joints in both hands, as well as into the amputation stump of the left middle finger, and under a skin necrosis in the right hand.

The therapy was good tolerated by the patient, with absence of adverse reactions. No infection was observed, despite open amputation. Three weeks after the stem cell therapy, no need to further amputation was demonstrated. The patient is still under regular clinical observation, in order to determine the long term effects of the therapy.

Application of isolated adipose tissue-derived stem cells seems to be a very promising procedure in the treatment of the manifestation of systemic sclerosis. However, more clinical and experimental studies are required, in order to understand the exact mechanisms of action and standardize the therapy.