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Human adipose tissue stem cells: relevance in the pathophysiology of obesity and metabolic diseases and therapeutic applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 December 2012

Angelo Cignarelli ,
Sebastio Perrini ,
Romina Ficarella ,
Alessandro Peschechera ,
Pasquale Nigro  and
Francesco Giorgino
Angelo Cignarelli
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation – Section of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Andrology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
Sebastio Perrini
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation – Section of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Andrology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
Romina Ficarella
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation – Section of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Andrology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
Alessandro Peschechera
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation – Section of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Andrology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
Pasquale Nigro
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation – Section of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Andrology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
Francesco Giorgino*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation – Section of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Andrology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
*
*Corresponding author: Francesco Giorgino, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation – Section of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Andrology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11, I-70124 Bari, Italy. E-mail: francesco.giorgino@uniba.it
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Abstract

Stem cells are unique cells exhibiting self-renewing properties and the potential to differentiate into multiple specialised cell types. Totipotent or pluripotent stem cells are generally abundant in embryonic or fetal tissues, but the use of discarded embryos as sources of these cells raises challenging ethical problems. Adult stem cells can also differentiate into a wide variety of cell types. In particular, adult adipose tissue contains a pool of abundant and accessible multipotent stem cells, designated as adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), that are able to replicate as undifferentiated cells, to develop as mature adipocytes and to differentiate into multiple other cell types along the mesenchymal lineage, including chondrocytes, myocytes and osteocytes, and also into cells of endodermal and neuroectodermal origin, including beta-cells and neurons, respectively. An impairment in the differentiation potential and biological functions of ASCs may contribute to the development of obesity and related comorbidities. In this review, we summarise different aspects of the ASCs with special reference to the isolation and characterisation of these cell populations, their relation to the biochemical features of the adipose tissue depot of origin and to the metabolic characteristics of the donor subject and discuss some prospective therapeutic applications.

Type
Review Article
Information
Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine , Volume 14 , March 2012 , e19
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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References

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Further reading, resources and contacts

Sugii, S., Kida, Y., Berggren, W.T. & Evans, R.M. (2011) Feeder-dependent and feeder-independent iPS cell derivation from human and mouse adipose stem cells. Nature Protocols 6, 346–358

This article describes a protocol for isolation, preparation and transformation of ASCs from fat tissue into mouse and human iPSCs.

Cinti, S. (2011) Between brown and white: novel aspects of adipocyte differentiation. Ann Med. 2011 43(2):104–15

This article reviews the ability of the adipose tissue of different depots to interconvert between white and brown cytotypes to meet changes in metabolic needs.

Sacks, HS, Fain, JN. (2011) Human epicardial fat: what is new and what is missing? Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 38(12):879–87

This is an overview of our current knowledge on the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of epicardial adipose tissue and its relationship to coronary atherosclerosis.

Gimble, JM, Bunnell, BA, Guilak, F. (2012) Human adipose-derived cells: an update on the transition to clinical translation. Regen Med. 7(2):225–35

The present article focuses on the literature of the past two years to assess the status of clinical and preclinical studies on adipose-derived cell therapies for regenerative medicine.

Peinado, JR, Pardo, M, de la Rosa, O, Malagón, MM. (2012) Proteomic characterization of adipose tissue constituents, a necessary step for understanding adipose tissue complexity. Proteomics. 12(4–5):607–20

This review discusses the recent proteomic studies on adipose tissue focused on the analysis of the distinct cellular components and their secretory products.

Sepe, A, Tchkonia, T, Thomou, T, Zamboni, M, Kirkland, JL (2011). Aging and regional differences in fat cell progenitors - a mini-review. Gerontology. 57(1):66–75

This article discusses how inherent, age-related, depot-dependent alterations in preadipocyte function contribute to age-related fat tissue redistribution and metabolic dysfunction.

Registry and results database of publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants conducted around the world:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/

Providers of hASC

http://www.lonza.com/products-services/bio-research/primary-and-stem-cells/adult-stem-cells-and-media/human-adipose-derived-stem-cells-and-media/human-adipose-derived-stem-cells.aspx?WT.srch=1

http://products.invitrogen.com/ivgn/product/R7788115

http://www.atcc.org/ATCCAdvancedCatalogSearch/ProductDetails/tabid/452/Default.aspx?ATCCNum=PCS-500-011&Template=primaryCells

http://www.zen-bio.com/products/cells/adult_stem_cells.php

International Federation for Adipose Tissue and Science (IFATS) project aims to exchange information among researchers.

http://www.ifats.org/

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is one of the longest-running European frameworks supporting cooperation among scientists and researchers across Europe. COST Action BM0602 aims to advance knowledge on the pathogenesis and prevention of obesity and the specific role of adipose tissue in the development of the metabolic syndrome.

http://www.cost.eu/domains_actions/bmbs/Actions/BM0602