Adipose tissue: From energy reservoir to a source of cells for epithelial tissue engineering

Abstract

Adipose tissue is accessible with minimally invasive procedures, is abundant, and is replenishable. It consists of a heterogeneous cell population including preadipocytes, mature adipocytes, fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, resident macrophages, and cells composing the stromal vascular fraction. This fraction contains multipotent cells with the same mesenchymal origin and similar biological and immunological characteristics of bone marrow stroma. On the other hand, adipose-derived stromal cells are easier to harvest and culture in comparison to bone marrow-derived ones. The authors discuss the microenvironment where are the stem cells is the niche, adipose tissue, and adipose tissue-derived stromal cell transplant for the treatment of epithelial pathologies, wound healing, diabetic foot, and other disorders.