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Plasticity of human adipose stem cells toward endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes

Nature Clinical Practice Cardiovascular Medicine volume 3, pages S33–S37 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Recent preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that adult stem cells have the ability to promote the retention or restoration of cardiac function in acute and chronic ischemia. Published clinical studies have used autologous donor cells, including skeletal muscle myoblasts, cultured peripheral blood cells, or bone marrow cells. However, our research and that of others indicates that human adipose tissue is an alternative source of cells with potential for cardiac cell therapy. These findings include the presence of cells within adipose tissue that can differentiate into cells expressing a cardiomyocytic or endothelial phenotype, as well as angiogenic and antiapoptotic growth factors. This potential is supported by preclinical studies in large animals.

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Figure 1: CD105/endoglin immunostaining of colonies formed after plating 1,000 freshly isolated human adipose-derived cells
Figure 2: Expression of myosin heavy chain by LacZ-positive donor-derived cells

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. former Vice President of Research, Cytori Therapeutics Inc., San Diego, CA, USA

    John K Fraser

  2. Director of Preclinical Affairs, Cytori Therapeutics Inc., San Diego, CA, USA

    Ronda Schreiber

  3. Scientists, Cytori Therapeutics Inc., San Diego, CA, USA

    Brian Strem, Min Zhu, Zeni Alfonso & Isabella Wulur

  4. President, at Cytori Therapeutics Inc., San Diego, CA, USA

    Marc H Hedrick

Authors
  1. John K Fraser
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  2. Ronda Schreiber
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  3. Brian Strem
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  4. Min Zhu
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  5. Zeni Alfonso
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  6. Isabella Wulur
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  7. Marc H Hedrick
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John K Fraser.

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Competing interests

All authors are employees of Cytori Therapeutics Inc. a for-profit entity engaged in regenerative medicine. JK Fraser and MH Hedrick are also shareholders in Cytori Therapeutics Inc.

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Fraser, J., Schreiber, R., Strem, B. et al. Plasticity of human adipose stem cells toward endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. Nat Rev Cardiol 3 (Suppl 1), S33–S37 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpcardio0444

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