The angiogenic potential of CD271+ human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells

• Main Authors: Richard J. P. Smith, Alessandro Faroni, James R. Barrow, Jamie Soul, Adam J. Reid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2021-03-01
• Series: Stem Cell Research & Therapy
• Subjects: Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs); Stromal vascular fraction (SVF); CD271; Angiopoietin; Fat grafting; Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS)
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-021-02177-0

Abstract 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 AD-MSCs that may benefit fat graft survival more than the general AD-MSC population. Methods Human AD-MSCs were selected for the surface marker CD271 using magnetic-activated cell sorting and compared to the CD271 negative phenotype.  These subpopulations were analysed for gene expression using Real-Time qPCR and RNA sequencing; surface marker characteristics using immunostaining; ability to form tubules when cultured with endothelial cells; and gene and protein expression of key angiogenic mediators when cultured with ex-vivo adipose tissue. 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.