The Angiogenic Potential of CD271+ Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Background: Autologous fat grafting is often a crucial aspect of reconstructive and aesthetic surgeries, yet poor graft retention is a major issue with this technique. Enriching fat grafts with adipose tissue- derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) improves graft survival – however, AD-MSCs represent a heterogeneous population. Selection of subpopulations of AD-MSCs would allow the targeting of specific ADMSCs that may benefit fat graft survival more than the general AD-MSC population.
Methods: Human AD-MSCs with the surface marker CD271 express angiogenic genes at higher levels, and inflammatory genes at lower levels, than the CD271- ADMSC population. A greater proportion of CD271+ AD-MSCs also possess the typical complement of stem cell surface markers, and are more likely to promote effective neoangiogenesis, compared to CD271- AD-MSCs.
Results: Human AD-MSCs with the surface marker CD271 express angiogenic genes at higher levels, and inflammatory genes at lower levels, than the CD271- AD-MSC population. A greater proportion of CD271+ AD-MSCs also possess the typical complement of stem cell surface markers, and are more likely to promote effective neoangiogenesis, compared to CD271- AD-MSCs.
Conclusion: Enriching grafts with the CD271 AD-MSC subpopulation holds potential for the improvement of reconstructive and aesthetic surgeries involving adipose tissue.