Background and objective

Stem cells are therapeutic candidates for a wide range of diseases. They are of great interest in Plastic Surgery for the management of chronic wounds, adipose tissue transfer and flaps.

The objective of this study is to describe the method of isolation, culture and characterization of stem cells derived from adipose tissue and how these can be preconditioned with hypoxia and generate in vitro changes in their proliferative and migratory capacity. This study is a didactic supplement to a paper published by us in this same journal using this methodology in comparison to the group of flap delay and control group in skin flaps randomized in rats.

Methods

Stem cells were obtained from inguinal-abdominal fatty tissue of adult rats: 10 in the group of stem cells derived from adipose tissue and another 10 in the group of stem cells derived from adipose tissue preconditioned with hypoxia (2% O2 and 5% CO2). Direct morphological analysis was carried out and with immunofluorescence (vimentin and CD90 marker). Study proliferation and in vitro cell migration was performed.

Results

An average of 1.64 +/- 1.13 gr of adipose tissue of the inguinoabdominal area was used in the group of stem cells without preconditioning and 0.93 +/- 0.34 gr. in the group with hypoxic preconditioning for the isolation. Stem cells derived from adipose tissue preconditioned with hypoxia showed an increase in migratory capacity at 24 hours of 2.44 +/- 0.85 mm v/s 2.24 +/- 0.82 mm (p ≤ 0.01) and proliferative of 5.42 x105 +/- 1.03 x105 cells / ml v/s 3.26 x 105 +/- 8.61 x104 cells / ml) (p ≤0.001) significantly compared to those without preconditioning.

Conclusions

A method of preconditioning stem cells by hypoxia is described in detail. It is possible to enhance the effect of the stem cells, significantly increasing their early migratory and proliferative capacity.

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