The Adipose-derived Stem Cell: Looking Back and Looking Ahead

摘要

In 2002, researchers at UCLA published a manuscript in Molecular Biology of the Cell describing a novel adult stem cell population isolated from adipose tissue—the adipose-derived stem cell (ASC). Since that time, the ASC has gone on to be one of the most popular adult stem cell populations currently being used in the stem cell field. With multilineage mesodermal potential and possible ectodermal and endodermal potentials also, the ASC could conceivably be an alternate to pluripotent ES cells in both the lab and in the clinic. In this retrospective article, a historical perspective on the ASC is given together with exciting new applications for the stem cell being considered today. Over the last 10 years, giant strides have been made worldwide in the adult stem cell field. It seemed every month another groundbreaking article was being published describing a unique adult stem cell population from a tissue we never could have imagined. Skin, liver, digestive epithelium, dental pulp, hair follicles—even amniotic fluid appeared to be a stem cell source that could be manipulated in the laboratory in wonderful ways. However, at the start of the decade, the number of adult stem cells being studied seemed to be limited to a few, but in 2002, our team at UCLA had the privilege of being able to add to the adult stem cell roster with the publication of a manuscript in Molecular Biology of the Cell ( Zuk et al. , 2002 ) that characterized a stem cell population from human adipose tissue. Since then it seems that the adult stem cell field has “taken off” into new and exciting territories.