TITLE:
Plastic Surgery Update on the Biology of Fat Cells and Adipose-Derived Stem Cells for Fat Grafting
AUTHORS:
Gordon H. Sasaki
KEYWORDS:
Fat Biology, Signal Transduction, Preadipocytes, Adipocyte-Derived Cells, Stromal Vascular Fraction, Adipose Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.2 No.6,
June
10,
2015
ABSTRACT:
The
cell biology of adipocytes has led to a number of promising concepts in the
last century, especially in
the areas of obesity and associated diseases, lipid homeostasis and endocrine
functions. Recent advances in adipogenesis had provided insights into
understanding of the complex cues for influencing the cytoarchitecture, epigenomic
remodeling, signaling pathways and transcription regulators on gene actions for
both white and brown adipogenic progression from mesenchymal stem cells to
matured committed adipocytes. The recent isolation of preadipocyte populations in vivo and their
identification by specific markers may become crucial for manipulating these
populations as they become potential targets of novel
therapeutics in treating condition of metabolic dysfunctions such as obesity.
Cell-biology-related research on preadipocyte (adiposal-mesenchymal cell) differentiation laid the foundation for
discoveries of adipose-derived cells (both in stromal vascular fraction, or SVF, and adipose-derived
stromal/stem cells, or ASCs), which had become
an increasing interest to both stem cell biologists and clinicians because of
their potential for angiogenesis and suppression of
inflammation for tissue engineering and treatments. The burgeoning preclinical and clinical experience with human adult
adipose-derived cells appears to be promising but interpretation of
the current literature with in vitro studies, translational research and FDA-registered investigations emphasizes
the need for standardized methods to advance basic science knowledge and
beneficial safe clinical outcomes. Since the specialty of Plastic Surgery with its position statement on stem cells and fat
grafting is committed to advancing evidence-base preclinical and clinical studies in compliance with
FDA-regulations, an updated review of cell biology provides insights to achieve
these goals.