Translational Medicine
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-1025
+44 1223 790975
ISSN: 2161-1025
+44 1223 790975
Zijun Zhang
MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, USA
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Transl Med
Introduction: The foot fat pad (FFP) bears body weight and may become a source of foot pain during aging. This study investigated the regenerative effects of autologous adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) in the FFP of rats. Methods: Fat tissue was harvested from a total of 30 male Sprague-Dowley rats for isolation of AT-MSCs. The cells were cultured and induced adipogenic differentiation for one week and labeled with fluorescent dye before injection. AT-MSCs (5x104 in 50 �?¼l saline) were injected into the second infra digital pad in right hind foot of the rat of origin. Saline only (50 �?¼l) was injected into the corresponding fat pad in the left hind paw of each rat. Rats (n=10) were euthanized at 1, 2 and 3 weeks and the second infra digital fat pads were dissected for histology. Results: The fluorescence-labeled AT-MSCs were present in the foot fads throughout the 3-week experimental period. On histology, the area of fat pad units (FPU) in the fat pads that received AT-MSC injections was greater than that in the control fat pads. Although the thickness of septae was not changed by AT-MSC injections, the density of elastic fibers in the septae was increased in the fat pads that implanted AT-MSCs. Conclusion: The implanted AT-MSCs largely survived in the weight bearing FFP. There was no evidence that AT-MSCs formed new FPUs, but they stimulated the growth of individual FPUs and formation of elastic fibers in FFP. These data are promising for developing stem cell therapies for aging-associated degeneration in FFP.
Zijun Zhang obtained his PhD/MD degree from Military Postgraduate Medical School, Beijing, China and completed his Post-doctoral training at University of Melbourne, University of Auckland and the NIH. He is the Director of Ortho-biologic Laboratory, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. He has published more than 50 papers in peerreviewed journals.
Email: zijun.zhang@medstar.net