From adiposity to bone

Skeletal tissue defects, from surgery, trauma, tumor ablation, or congenital malformations, represent an enormous socioeconomic burden on the United States healthcare system. The current treatment options involved in bony reconstruction, namely autogenous, allogenic, or synthetic grafts, have many limitations. Regenerative medicine is a rapidly expanding field that has emerged as a potential solution in addressing the problems associated with current approaches to skeletal defects. Cell-based modalities incorporating the use of multipotent mesenchymal cells, particularly those derived from adipose tissue, have generated much attention both within the research and clinical realms. Our laboratory is particularly focused on the potential role of adipose tissue as a readily available post-natal source of osteoprogenitor cells. This article focuses on the necessary components of skeletal tissue engineering, the application of adipose-derived stromal cells, and future directions for the field.