Isolation of autologous adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells for bone repair

INTRODUCTION: Adipose tissue represents an abundant and accessible source of adult stem cells that can differentiate into cells and tissues of mesodermal origin, including osteogenic cells. METHODS: This paper describes the procedure to obtain a 5-cm3 saline sample, containing the adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) pellet, starting from lipoaspirate obtained from a conventional abdominal liposuction. RESULTS: A mean of 2.5×106 cells is isolated for each procedure; 35% (875000) of these are CD34+/CD45- cells, which express a subset of both positive (CD10, CD13, CD44, CD59, CD73, CD90, HLAABC) and negative (CD33, CD39, CD102, CD106, CD146, HLADR) cell-associated surface antigens, characterizing them as ASCs. CONCLUSIONS: This procedure is easy, effective, economic and safe. It allows the harvesting of a significant number of ASCs that are ready for one-step bony regenerative surgical procedures.