Adipose tissue stem cells

Adipose tissue – what we commonly call “fat” – is not just an energy reserve. It is a true active organ, rich in blood vessels, immune cells, and, above all, stem cells.
These cells, called mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), are found around the blood vessels that run through adipose tissue. They are undifferentiated cells, meaning they lack a specific function, with the ability to transform into different types of tissue: bone, cartilage, muscle, adipose tissue itself.

In other words, within our fat lies a true natural regenerative laboratory.

Why is adipose tissue so interesting?

Compared to other sources of stem cells, such as bone marrow, adipose tissue has two huge advantages:

is abundant: we all have usable fat deposits;

è easily accessible: the collection is done with a small liposuction, a minimally invasive and safe procedure.

Another surprising fact: fat contains a much higher amount of stem cells compared to bone marrow. For this reason, it is now considered one of the richest and most promising sources of adult mesenchymal cells.

How adipose tissue is used: SVF and Full Fat

When using adipose tissue in medicine, two main approaches can be followed:

1. SVF – Stromal Vascular Fraction

Adipose tissue can be “broken down” to extract its most interesting part: the stromal vascular fraction (SVF).

This fraction contains mesenchymal cells, endothelial cells, pericytes, and immune cells.

In simple terms, it is a cellular concentrate that encapsulates the regenerative potential of fat.

The SVF is the subject of numerous clinical studies and trials, particularly in:

  • orthopedics (regeneration of cartilage and tendons),
  • dermatology (healing of ulcers and chronic wounds),
  • experimental regenerative medicine (applications in neurology and cardiology).

2. Full Fat

A different approach consists of using adipose tissue as it is, processed and purified, without separating the cells. This is known as full fat.

In this case, the fat retains not only the stem cells but also the extracellular matrix that acts as a “natural scaffold” to support regeneration.

The most common clinical use is lipofilling, a technique in plastic and reconstructive surgery that transplants adipose tissue to reconstruct volumes (for example, after breast cancer surgery), improve scars, or repair skin damage caused by trauma or radiotherapy.

Already possible today

Adipose tissue stem cells – both in the form of SVF and full fat – have already found concrete applications:

  • Plastic and reconstructive surgery: restoration of volume, correction of scars, improvement of damaged tissues.
  • Dermatology: treatment of chronic ulcers and skin rejuvenation.
  • Orthopedics: applications under study for the repair of joints, cartilage, and tendons.

And the future is promising: adipose mesenchymal cells are also being studied for heart, neurological, and autoimmune diseases, thanks to their immunomodulatory properties.

Why keep them

Storing adipose tissue means setting aside a personal reserve of mesenchymal stem cells that:

  • are easy to collect, with a minimally invasive procedure;
  • are already useful today in various clinical fields;
  • offer future prospects in advanced regenerative medicine.

What was considered a simple “excess” to be eliminated just a few years ago is now recognized as a source of health and regeneration.

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