Comparison of osteogenic potentials of visceral and subcutaneous adipose-derived cells of rabbits.

Background: The demand for a large amount of osteogenic cells required in bone tissue engineering warranted exploration of a new source of osteoprogenitor cells. Recent studies have demonstrated that adipose-derived stromal cells possess multiple differentiation capacities, including osteogenic potential, as bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. In the present study, the authors compared the osteogenic potentials of adipose-derived stromal cells from different anatomical sites of rabbits.

Methods: Different adipose-derived stromal cells were isolated from rabbit visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues by enzymatic digestion and in vitro differentiation into osteogenic lineage. Osteogenic markers representing differentiation potentials of adipose-derived stromal cells from different anatomical sites were compared by biochemical and immunohistochemical assessment (n = 3).

Results: Fibroblast-like cells were digested from both visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues. After exposure to osteogenic differentiation medium, visceral adipose-derived cells were found to possess greater osteogenic potentials than cells isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissues, evidenced by significantly different amounts of osteogenic markers including alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and mineral deposition.

Conclusion: This study indicates that osteogenic potentials of adipose-derived cells vary by their anatomical sites, with visceral adipose-derived cells exhibiting higher osteogenic potential than those isolated from subcutis. However, the mechanism is still unidentified.