Abstract

MERUANE, M. et al. Induced epithelialization by adipose tissue derived stem cells. Cir. plást. iberolatinoam. [online]. 2014, vol.40, n.2, pp.125-131. ISSN 1989-2055.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0376-78922014000200001.

The treatment of injuries with loss of skin tissue has improved significantly with the advent of bioengineered tissue. Previous studies showed that the use of dermal substitutes combined with autologous Adipose-derived Stem Cells (ASCs) improve angiogenesis and collagen synthesis; however, epithelialization is an outstanding issue to be resolved. In the present study, we evaluated the epithelial progression and differentiation in an extended period of time. We obtained the adipose tissue derived stem cells (ASCs) from the inguinal fat pad of 4 Sprague Dawley rats. The non-expanded cells were cultivated in a dermal scaffold (Integra^® ) for 48 hours and marked with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) lentiviral vector. The scaffold plus stem cells and a contralateral cell-free scaffold (control) were implanted in the same rats. After 4 weeks, epithelial surface was assesses by planimetry and histology. The results show that macroscopic wound closure by contraction from the edges has no significant differences (82.63% ± 3.4% vs. 80.66% ± 3.89%, p = 0.08), but the closure by epithelialization was significantly higher in the side with stem cells (93.47% ± 5.98% vs. 79.88% ± 6.28%, p = 0.0028). All samples were positive for staining with anti-cytokeratin antibody 34βE12 and linear epithelial advancement quantified by microscopy was significantly higher in the side with stem cells (6408 ± 275μm vs. 5375 ± 250μm, p < 0.001). GFP positive cells were identified as part of the regenerated dermis but not the epidermis. In conclusion, the autologous adipose tissue derived stem cells seeded in a Integra^® scaffold significantly increase epithelial formation, most likely by an induction mechanism rather than affecting differentiation.

Keywords : Epidermal epithelium; Stem cells; Adipose tissue; Artificial skin; Tissue engineering.

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