Adipose-Derived Stem Cells as a Novel Tool for Future Regenerative Medicine

Abstract

Stem cell-based therapies for the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues and organs offer a paradigm shift that may provide alternative therapeutic solutions for a number of diseases. The use of either embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells in clinical situations may be still limited due to cell behaviors, ethical considerations, and genetic manipulation , even though these cells are theoretically highly benefi cial. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) seem to be an ideal population of stem cells for practical regenerative medicine since they are plentiful, of autologous tissue origin and thus non-immunogenic, and are more available due to minimal ethical considerations. Furthermore, recent basic research and pre-clinical studies have revealed that the use of ASCs in regenerative medicine is not limited to mesodermal components, but extends to both ectodermal and endodermal tissues and organs, even though ASCs are mesodermal in origin. This chapter will describe the biology of ASCs and their proliferation and differentiation capacities, and will summarize the current preclinical and clinical data from a variety of medical fi elds on the use of ASCs in regenera-tive medicine.