Role of adipose-derived stem cells in chronic cutaneous wound healing

Aim: Adipose tissue represent an alternative source of multzpotent stem cells with characteristics similar to bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), easier to isolate and effective in wound healing enhancement. MATERIAL OF STUDY: Each patient being considered for stem cells graft was subjected to a conventional liposuction procedure (local anaesthesia, aspirated volume about 80cc), in order to isolate a pellet of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), which was then mixed with the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) previously collected, in order to obtain an enhanced-ASCs-PRP (e-PRP), now ready for grafting in the context of skin edges as well as at the bottom of the lesion itself. RESULTS: Flow cytometric analysis performed on the pellet obtained with our isolation process, showed that a mean of 5 x 105 ASCs (range: 4,0-6,0 x 10(5), SD: +/- 1 x 10(5)) were collected from 80 ml of adipose tissue, harvested with standard wet liposuction procedure. It represented the 5% of all sample cells (1 x 10(7)), while the others 95% were mostly being blood-derived and endothelial cells. DISCUSSION: By now, the most used isolation protocols take about two hours due to the complex isolation procedure, requiring both animal-derived reagents and collagenase. The amount of ASCs obtained with our isolation process is sufficient to be directly engrafted in the wound without the need of in vitro expansion but, neither serum nor animal derived reagents are used, and it takes only 15' minutes. CONCLUSION: ASCs application is an innovative, effective approach in the treatment of chronic wounds.