Published online Dec 26, 2020. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v12.i12.1640
Peer-review started: July 16, 2020
First decision: August 9, 2020
Revised: October 9, 2020
Accepted: November 5, 2020
Article in press: November 5, 2020
Published online: December 26, 2020
Processing time: 163 Days and 8.5 Hours
Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are adult multipotent cells successfully used in clinical trials for several health conditions over the last decades. Human adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (hASCs) are MSCs easily and abundantly obtained from fat tissue. hASCs have been shown to be one of the most advantageous type of MSCs for clinical trials. One of the keys for successful application of these cells is the guarantee of the material quality. Many factors such as the harvesting system, donor characteristics and processing methods are responsible for the good viability, proliferation and multilineage differentiation abilities of these cells.
The aging process is well known to modify the microenvironment and consequently cells performance in the organism. However, it is not understood if donor age promotes intrinsic alterations in cell functions regardless of environmental stimuli. Contradictory evidence is described in the literature regarding the influence of donor age on hASCs functionating after isolation.
The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the growth and differentiation abilities of hASCs isolated from the lipoaspirates of elderly and young donors.
hASCs were isolated from liposuctioned adipose tissue obtained from female donors and distributed into two groups according to age range: old hASCs (oASCs) (≥ 55 years) and young hASCs (yASCs) (≤ 35 years). For hASCs characterization, immunophenotypic markers were assessed by flow cytometry. Growth kinetics were assessed over seven days. Adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation was evaluated. For adipogenic potential evaluation, lipid deposits were assessed after 7 d, 14 d and 21 d of adipogenic induction. Osteogenic potential was verified by analyzing cell mineralization after 14 d, 21 d and 28 d of osteogenic induction. mRNA expression of PPARγ2, CEBPA and Runx2 were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
No differences were observed in morphology or performance between cells from young (26.33 ± 4.66 years old) and old donors (64.78 ± 4.58 years old) during cultivation and maintenance of these cells. Both groups showed classical immunophenotypic characteristics of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. The potential for cell division did not significantly differ between yASCs and oASCs. Regarding differentiation potential, yASCs and oASCs were able to efficiently differentiate after adipogenic and osteogenic induction. No differences were observed in the adipogenesis or osteogenesis effectiveness between yASCs and oASCs.
hASCs isolated from lipoaspirate material obtained from young or elderly female patients were not different in terms of in vitro performance considering cell growth and adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation potentiality.
Donor age does not seem to interfere with the intrinsic characteristics of hASCs isolated from lipoaspirates. Therefore, donor age should not interfere in guaranteeing the quality of these cells.