Adipose-derived stromal cells in regulation of hematopoiesis

Over the past decade, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) found in the bone marrow microenvironment have been considered to be important candidates in cellular therapy. However, the application of MSCs in clinical settings is limited by the difficulty and low efficiency associated with the separation of MSCs from the bone marrow. Therefore, distinct sources of MSCs have been extensively explored. Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs), a cell line similar to MSCs, have been identified as a promising source. ASCs have become increasingly popular in many fields, as they can be conveniently extracted from fat tissue. This review focuses on the properties of ASCs in hematopoietic regulation and the underlying mechanisms, as well as the current applications and future perspectives in ASC-based therapy.