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Title: Potential Source of Stem Cells for Heart Repair, Other Uses Found in Fat of Elderly, Chronically Diseased Patients: Presented at AHA

"Potential Source of Stem Cells for Heart Repair, Other Uses Found in Fat of Elderly, Chronically Diseased Patients: Presented at AHA"

CHICAGO, IL -- November 17, 2006 -- Mesenchymal progenitor (stem) cells are as plentiful in the fat of elderly and chronically diseased patients as in that of the young, healthy patients previously investigated. Paul DiMuzio, MD, assistant professor, departments of surgery and of radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and colleagues reported the findings here at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2006 Scientific Sessions. Cells of this type have shown promise for reducing the long-term impact of myocardial infarction according to other research presented this year at the AHA meeting and can also be used to produce tissue-engineered blood vessels for later implantation. In remarks to reporters at the scientific sessions, Dr. DiMuzio noted that availability of progenitor cells from bone marrow and similar sources tends to decrease in older patients -- precisely the ones most likely to need cardiovascular repair. A mean of 15 g of fat was obtained by liposuction from 49 patients undergoing various elective vascular procedures. After digestion with collagenase I, differential centrifugation was used to separate a stromal-vascular pellet from mature adipocytes and the pelleted cells were plated out on culture medium. After 7 days of culture, cells displaying markers for undesired cell types were removed and the number of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) was determined. The ASC preparation was > 98% pure by flow cytometry. The number of stromal-vascular cells and ASCs was analyzed by patient subgroup. No effect of age, gender, or presence of peripheral vascular disease was seen. Body mass index increased the yield of stromal vascular cells but not of ASCs. Diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease decreased the yield of stromal-vascular cells but only diabetes decreased the yield of ASCs. Isolated ASCs appeared normal when analyzed by light microscopy and their ability to proliferate was normal, but their ability to differentiate has not yet been tested. Dr. DiMuzio's group is primarily interested in their ability to differentiate into endothelial cells that could be used to create new blood vessels. The authors concluded, "The use of adipose tissue as a source of adult stem cells in elderly patient with vascular disease appears initially viable." [Presentation title: Isolation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Patients with Vascular Disease" Abstract 2191]

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