Lipogems, a new modality of fat tissue handling to enhance tissue repair in chronic hind limb ischemia - Lipogems

Abstract

Background: Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) may represent an easy-to-harvest tool for cell therapy of peripheral artery disease. In most clinical trials, stem cells undergo prolonged ex vivo expansion, with significant senescence, and decline in multipotency, leading to clinical results below expectations. Methods: We have developed a non-enzymatic method yielding a microfractured fat tissue (Lipogems), harboring intact stromal-vascular niche and pericyte/mesenchymal stem cells. Human Lipogems, Lipogems-derived hASCs preconditioned with or without a vasculogenic mixture, including hyaluronan, butyric and retinoic acids (H+ B+ R), were transplanted into the gracilis muscle of 16 rats subjected to chronic hind limb ischemia. After two weeks, tissue rescue was assessed by a perivascular flow probe and immunohistochemistry. Coculture of HU-VECs with Lipogems or Lipogems-derived hASCs was performed. Vasculogenic gene transcription and secreted cytokines were assessed. Results: Xenogeneic transplantation of human