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INTRODUCTION: IFATS COLLECTION: TISSUE-SPECIFIC STEM CELLS

IFATS Collection: Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells Improve the Foreign Body Response

^aDepartment of Biomedical Engineering and
^bKenan Plastic Surgery Research Lab, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA

Key Words. Adipose-derived stromal cells • Adipose stem cells • Foreign body response • Biomaterials • Cytokines

Correspondence: Correspondence: Bruce Klitzman, Ph.D.,Duke University, Box 3906, Research Park Bldg 4, Rm 0018, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. Telephone: 919-684-3929; e-mail: klitz{at}duke.edu

Received on February 14, 2008; accepted for publication on April 15, 2008.

First published online in STEM CELLS EXPRESS  April 24, 2008.


Many implanted devices fail due to the formation of an avascular capsule surrounding the device. Additionally, fat has long been known to promote healing and vascularization. The goals of this study were to identify potential mechanisms of the provascular actions of adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) and to improve implant biocompatibility. First, adult ASCs and fibroblasts from rats were attached to polyurethane and polystyrene in vitro and their cytokine secretion profile was analyzed. Secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from ASCs was 10–70 times higher than fibroblasts after 3 and 6 days. Next, polyurethane, bare and with cellular coatings, was implanted subcutaneously in rats. The fibrous capsule surrounding bare polyurethane implants was 17%–32% thicker and the amount of collagen was 27% greater than the capsule surrounding ASC-coated implants. Finally, the microvessel density adjacent to ASC-coated polyurethane was approximately 50%–80% higher than bare polyurethane. In summary, ASCs attached to polyurethane have a dramatically increased VEGF production compared with fibroblasts in vitro, and these cells also produce an increased microvessel density in the surrounding tissue when implanted subcutaneously in rats.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.