StemCell Therapy

DALLAS, May 29 (UPI) -- Stem cells derived from fat may be a promising source of cells for use in plastic surgery and regenerative medicine, U.S. researchers say.

Dr. Rod Rohrich of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas said adipose stem cells are "multipotent" cells that can be induced to develop into other kinds of cells -- not only fat cells, but also bone, cartilage and muscle cells.

Adipose stem cells -- relatively easily derived from human fat -- promote the development of new blood vessels and seem to represent an "immune privileged" set of cells that blocks inflammation, Rohrich said.

"Clinicians and patients alike have high expectations that adipose stem cells might well be the answer to curing many recalcitrant diseases or to reconstruct anatomical defects," Rohrich said in a statement.

Rohrich and co-authors conducted an in-depth review to identify all known clinical trials of adipose stem cells, but most studies have been performed in Europe and South Korea. Only three adipose stem cells studies were performed in the United States due to stringent U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, Rohrich said.

Although many of the results were encouraging, the reviewers emphasize that all of these applications are in their infancy and worldwide round the world, fewer than 300 patients were treated using adipose stem cells, the study said.

The findings are scheduled to be published in the June issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

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Fat-derived stem cells encouraging

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