Characterization and immunogenicity of porcine adipose-derived stem cells

Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) hold promise in regenerative medicine due to their multipotent differentiation capacity, anti-inflammatory effects, and ability to promote tissue repair. Porcine models are increasingly used in stem cell research due to their anatomical and physiological similarities to humans. This study aimed to characterize porcine ASCs (pASCs) and evaluate their immunogenicity following allogeneic transplantation. The pASCs were isolated from abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue of an 18-month-old donor pig, expanded in an automated bioreactor, and cryopreserved. Characterization revealed high expression of mesenchymal markers (CD29, CD44, CD90, CD105) and absence of the hematopoietic marker CD45. The pASCs exhibited robust proliferative and self-renewal capacity, and the ability to differentiate into adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. Alloantibody analysis of 18 recipient pigs over four months post-transplantation demonstrated minimal alloantibody formation. These findings confirm mesenchymal stem cell identity and low immunogenicity of large-scale expanded pASCs, supporting their potential application in regenerative medicine. However, further studies are needed to validate the long-term therapeutic efficacy of pASCs in porcine disease models.