Stem Cells Obtained From Adipose Tissue

U.S. scientists have cultured stem cells from human fat tissue, creating an alternate source for life-saving hematopoietic stem cell transplants.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers said they isolated and cultured human hematopoietic stem cells from fat, or adipose, tissue, suggesting a new source of cells for reconstituting the bone marrow of patients undergoing intensive radiation therapy for blood cancers.

We took cells from the stromal vascular fraction of normal adipose tissue and basically gave them bone marrow food to see what would happen, said study leader Professor Albert Donnenberg. We were able to culture a variety of hematopoietic cells, including blood progenitor cells.

The researchers presented their findings last week in Toronto during a meeting of the North American chapter of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society.