Fat Derived Stem Cells Reach Important Milestones to Commercialization for bone, cartilage and muscle repair
BY ROBIN R. YOUNG CFA, APRIL 19, 2004
In two separate studies, stem cells derived from the patient's own fat tissue, otherwise known as adipose derived stem cells, were shown to adapt and grow into either bone tissue or heart muscle tissue, without requiring any external growth factors or genetic manipulation. These are significant results. Adipose stem cells are plentiful. Establishing that they can differentiate and integrate independently sets the stage to use these cells to rebuild bone, cartilage and muscle. And the notion that these could be harvested from the patient's own fat tissues and used to regenerate arthritic joints, damaged heart muscles or osteoporotic bone is a dream worthy of the name.
The first study came in the journal Nature Biotechnology published on April 11/2004. In a study conducted at UCLA and Stanford, the ten authors tested adipose stem cells in a rat model. The stem cells were derived from the rat's fat tissues. They were placed in a hydroxapatite coated polymer matrix (poly lactic acid). The results: 'significant intramembranous bone formation in 2 weeks and areas of complete bony ridges by 12 weeks.'
The second study was presented at the Cardiovascular Cell and Gene Therapy Conference II on April 13/2004. In this study one million adipose derived stem cells were implanted into the damaged muscles (myocardium) of Rosa26 mice. Within 7 days, the researchers had evidence that the injected stem cells had differentiated into muscle cells and were communicating (expressing Troponin I and Myosin Heavy Chain markers) with their adjoining muscle cells; again, with no external growth factors or genetic manipulation.
Fat tissue has been shown to be an excellent source of stem cells, possibly the most prolific. Demonstrating in a rat model that these cells will differentiate and grow into substantial and living bone and muscle tissue is really very, very significant.
Macropore was the company whose technology and dollars supported these studies. More information is available from www.macropore.com.
