Isolation of autologous adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells for bone repair

IntroductionAdipose tissue represents an abundant and accessible source of adult stem cells that can differentiate into cells and tissues of mesodermal origin, including osteogenic cells.MethodsThis paper describes the procedure to obtain a 5-cm3 saline sample, containing the adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) pellet, starting from lipoaspirate obtained from a conventional abdominal liposuction.ResultsA mean of 2.5 × 106 cells is isolated for each procedure; 35% (875000) of these are CD34+/CD45− cells, which express a subset of both positive (CD10, CD13, CD44, CD59, CD73, CD90, HLAABC) and negative (CD33, CD39, CD102, CD106, CD146, HLADR) cell-associated surface antigens, characterizing them as ASCs.ConclusionsThis procedure is easy, effective, economic and safe. It allows the harvesting of a significant number of ASCs that are ready for one-step bony regenerative surgical procedures.