Much of the work conducted on adult stem cells has focused on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) found within the bone marrow stroma. Adipose tissue, like bone marrow, is derived from the embryonic mesenchyme and contains a stroma that is easily isolated. Preliminary studies have recently identified a putative stem cell population within the adipose stromal compartment. This cell population, termed processed lipoaspirate (PLA) cells, can be isolated from human lipoaspirates and, like MSCs, differentiate toward the osteogenic, adipogenic, myogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. To confirm whether adipose tissue contains stem cells, the PLA population and multiple clonal isolates were analyzed using several molecular and biochemical approaches. PLA cells expressed multiple CD marker antigens similar to those observed on MSCs. Mesodermal lineage induction of PLA cells and clones resulted in the expression of multiple lineage-specific genes and proteins. Furthermore, biochemical analysis also confirmed lineage-specific activity. In addition to mesodermal capacity, PLA cells and clones differentiated into putative neurogenic cells, exhibiting a neuronal-like morphology and expressing several proteins consistent with the neuronal phenotype. Finally, PLA cells exhibited unique characteristics distinct from those seen in MSCs, including differences in CD marker profile and gene expression.

/pdf/human-adipose-tissue-is-a-source-of-multipotent-stem-cells-18jo72s52v.pdf

Human Adipose Tissue Is a Source of Multipotent Stem Cells

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jor.1100090504

Mesenchymal stem cells

Targeted Disruption of Cbfa1 Results in a Complete Lack of Bone Formation owing to Maturational Arrest of Osteoblasts

Self-Renewing Osteoprogenitors in Bone Marrow Sinusoids Can Organize a Hematopoietic Microenvironment

In principle, transplantation of mesenchymal progenitor cells would attenuate or possibly correct genetic disorders of bone, cartilage and muscle, but clinical support for this concept is lacking. Here we describe the initial results of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in three children with osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder in which osteoblasts produce defective type I collagen, leading to osteopenia, multiple fractures, severe bony deformities and considerably shortened stature. Three months after osteoblast engraftment (1.5-2.0% donor cells), representative specimens of trabecular bone showed histologic changes indicative of new dense bone formation. All patients had increases in total body bone mineral content ranging from 21 to 29 grams (median, 28), compared with predicted values of 0 to 4 grams (median, 0) for healthy children with similar changes in weight. These improvements were associated with increases in growth velocity and reduced frequencies of bone fracture. Thus, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation can lead to engraftment of functional mesenchymal progenitor cells, indicating the feasibility of this strategy in the treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta and perhaps other mesenchymal stem cell disorders as well.

Transplantability and therapeutic effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells in children with osteogenesis imperfecta

https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/0092-8674(81)90037-4.pdf

Osteonectin, A Bone-Specific Protein Linking Mineral to Collagen

Deduced protein sequence of bone small proteoglycan I (biglycan) shows homology with proteoglycan II (decorin) and several nonconnective tissue proteins in a variety of species.

Human bone cell cultures were established by maintaining collagenase-treated, bone fragments in low Ca++ medium. The resulting cell cultures exhibited a high level of alkaline phosphatase activity and produced a significant increase in intracellular cAMP when exposed to the 1-34 fragment of human parathyroid hormone. With continued culture, the cells formed a thick, extracellular matrix that mineralized when cultures were provided daily with normal levels of calcium, fresh ascorbic acid (50 μg/ml) and 10 mM β-glycerol phosphate. Biosynthetically, these cells produced type I collagen (without any type III collagen), and the bone-specific protein, osteonectin. In addition, the cells produced sulfated macromolecules electrophoretically identical to those positively identified as the bone proteoglycan in parallel cultures of fetal bovine bone cells. This technique provides a useful system for the study of osteoblast metabolismin vitro.

Human bone cells in vitro.

The messenger RNAs and core proteins of the two small chondroitin/dermatan sulfate proteoglycans, biglycan and decorin, were localized in developing human bone and other tissues by both 35S-labeled RNA probes and antibodies directed against synthetic peptides corresponding to nonhomologous regions of the two core proteins. Biglycan and decorin expression and localization were substantially divergent and sometimes mutually exclusive. In developing bones, spatially restricted patterns of gene expression and/or matrix localization of the two proteoglycans were identified in articular regions, epiphyseal cartilage, vascular canals, subperichondral regions, and periosteum, and indicated the association of each molecule with specific developmental events at specific sites. Study of non-skeletal tissues revealed that decorin was associated with all major type I (and type II) collagen-rich connective tissues. Conversely, biglycan was expressed and localized in a range of specialized cell types, including connective tissue (skeletal myofibers, endothelial cells) and epithelial cells (differentiating keratinocytes, renal tubular epithelia). Biglycan core protein was localized at the cell surface of certain cell types (e.g., keratinocytes). Whereas the distribution of decorin was consistent with matrix-centered functions, possibly related to regulation of growth of collagen fibers, the distribution of biglycan pointed to other function(s), perhaps related to cell regulation.

John D. Termine

Papers

Osteonectin, A Bone-Specific Protein Linking Mineral to Collagen

Deduced protein sequence of bone small proteoglycan I (biglycan) shows homology with proteoglycan II (decorin) and several nonconnective tissue proteins in a variety of species.

Human bone cells in vitro.

Expression and localization of the two small proteoglycans biglycan and decorin in developing human skeletal and non-skeletal tissues.

Properties of dissociatively extracted fetal tooth matrix proteins. I. Principal molecular species in developing bovine enamel.