Fibroblasts Derived From Human Adipose Stem Cells Produce More Effective Extracellular Matrix and Migrate Faster Compared to Primary Dermal Fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) to improve wound healing has been extensively investigated. Unfortunately, there have been no consistent reports describing significant improvements in healing time or outcomes in large-scale clinical trials using human ASCs. Primarily, these studies examined undifferentiated ASCs as opposed to specific cells differentiated from ASCs.

OBJECTIVE: Here, we examine the properties of fibroblasts differentiated from human ASCs (dFib cells) in comparison to those of primary dermal fibroblasts.

METHODS: ASCs were isolated from healthy female patients, differentiated into dFib cells, and compared with intra-patient primary dermal fibroblasts for morphology, extracellular matrix marker expression, and cell migration using qPCR, western blot, and scratch test assays.

RESULTS: De novo differentiated fibroblasts produce higher levels of the healthy extracellular matrix (ECM) markers elastin, fibronectin, and collagen 1, when compared to primary fibroblasts. In contrast, dFib cells have reduced expression of the scar tissue markers αSMA, Collagen 3, and MMP-1. Further, dFib cells close scratch defects more quickly than primary dermal fibroblasts (32 ± 12.85 hours vs. 64 ± 13.85 hours, p<0.01) in a scratch test assay.

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that fibroblasts newly differentiated from human ASCs migrate well and produce a robust ECM the combination of which may contribute to improved wound healing and thus should be further investigated.