Objective
We hypothesized that adipose tissue may contain progenitors cells with cutaneous and angiogenic potential.
Methods and results
Adipose
tissue-derived stroma cells (ADSCs) were administrated to skin punched
wounds of both nonirradiated and irradiated mice (20 Gy, locally). At
day 14, ADSCs promoted dermal wound healing and enhanced wound closure,
viscolesticity, and collagen tissue secretion in both irradiated and
nonirradiated mice. Interestingly, GFP-positive ADSCs incorporated in
dermal and epidermal tissue in vivo and expressed epidermal markers K5
and K14. Cultured ADSCs in keratinocyte medium have been shown to
differentiate into K5- and K14-positive cells and produced high levels
of KGF. At Day 7, ADSCs also improved skin blood perfusion assessed by
laser Doppler imaging, capillary density, and VEGF plasma levels in both
irradiated and nonirradiated animals. GFP-positive ADSCs incorporated
into capillary structures in vivo and expressed the endothelial cell
marker CD31. Finally, in situ interphase fluorescence hybridization
showed that a small number of ADSCs have the potential to fuse with
endogenous keratinocytes.
Conclusions
ADSCs
participate in dermal wound healing in physiological and pathological
conditions by their ability to promote reepithelialization and
angiogenesis. Hence, adipose lineage cells represent a new cell source
for therapeutic dermal wound healing.
