StemCell Therapy

Adult Stem Cells (ASCs), by definition, are unspecialized or undifferentiated cells that not only retain their ability to divide mitotically while still maintaining their undifferentiated state but also, given the right conditions, have the ability to differentiate into different types of cells including cells of different germ-origin an ability referred to as transdifferentiation or plasticity.1,2 In vitro, the conditions under which transdifferentiation occurs can be brought about by modifying the culture medium in which the cells are cultured. In vivo, the same changes are seen when the ASCs are transplanted into a tissue environment different to their own tissue-of origin. Though the exact mechanism of this transdifferentiation of ASCs is still under debate, this ability of ASCs along with their ability to self-renew is of great interest in the field of Regenerative Medicine as a therapeutic tool in being able to regenerate and replace dying, damaged or diseased tissue.

Clinically, however, there are a few criteria that ASCs need to fulfill before they can be viewed as a viable option in Regenerative Medicine. These are as follows:3

Adds Millions of Stem Cells Back into Circulation.

Adipose Tissue Yields an Abundance of ASCs

Compared to any other source, the high concentrations of regenerative cells found in adipose tissue (depots of fat for storing energy) especially in the abdominal region, by sheer volume of availability, ensure an abundance in number of ASCs ranging in the millions per unit volume. The sheer number available also has the added advantage of not needing to be cultured in a laboratory over days in order to get the desired number of ASCs to achieve what is called therapeutic threshold i.e. therapeutic benefit. In addition, harvesting ASCs from adipose tissue through simple, minimally invasive liposuction under local anesthesia is relatively easier and painless and poses minimal risk to the patient compared to all other possible methods.

Adipose tissue ASCs (AT-ASCs) are extremely similar to stem cells isolated from bone marrow (BMSCs). The similarities in profile between the two types of ASCs range from morphology to growth to transcriptional and cell surface phenotypes.4,5 Their similarity extends also to their developmental behavior both in vitro and in vivo. This has led to suggestions that adipose-derived stem cells are in fact a mesenchymal stem cell fraction present within adipose tissue.6

Clinically, however, stromal vascular fraction-derived AT-ASCs have the advantage over their bone marrow-derived counterparts, because of their abundance in numbers eliminating the need for culturing over days to obtain a therapeutically viable number and the ease of the harvest procedure itself being less painful than the harvest of bone marrow. This, in theory, means that an autologous transplant of adipose-derived ASCs will not only work in much the same way as the successes shown using marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplant, but also be of minimal risk to the patient.

AT-ASCs, like BM-ASCs, are called Mesenchymal ASCs because they are both of mesodermal germ-origin. This means that AT-ASCs are able to differentiate into specialized cells of mesodermal origin such as adipocytes, fibroblasts, myocytes, osteocytes and chondrocytes.7,8,9 AT-ASCs are also able (given the right conditions of growth factors) to transdifferentiate into cells of germ-origin other than their own. Animal model and human studies have shown AT-ASCs to undergo cardiomyogenic 10, endothelial (vascular)11, pancreatic (endocrine) 12, neurogenic 13, and hepatic trans-differentiation14 , while also supporting haematopoesis15.

Low Risk to the Patient

PhotoActivate ASCs for Stem Cell Treatment with AdiLight-2

Autologous transplant of SVF AT-ASCs also poses extremely low risk to the patient when done as a single procedure in a sterile surgical operating room setting. Furthermore, it is postulated that SVF AT-ASCs due to their immunosuppressive properties may be transplanted into not only autologous but also allogenic tissues without initiating a cytotoxic T-cell response.16 We at AdiStem believe autologous transplant to be the safest and most viable option.

It is noteworthy that the protocol devised by AdiStem for the procurement of SVF AT-ASCs does not overlook the therapeutic potential conferred by the cocktail of ingredients present in the SVF. Let us look at this cocktail of cells, proteins and growth factors in a little more detail.

The extracellular matrix of adipose tissue contains different types of Collagen such as Types 1, 3-4, 7, 14-15, 18 and 27 to name a few.6 This is important in AdiStems Fat Transfer protocol where freshly isolated fat is used as a filler in augmentation or post-lumpectomy reconstruction of the breast and in the augmentation of the penis, and where collagen provides the structural support required for cell survival.

Furthermore, the extracellular matrix plays an important role in adipocyte endocrine secretions, and release of growth factors such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF), among others all of which are contained in the SVF.17 This is consistent with the secretions of cells in the presence of an extracellular matrix. The SVF also contains the various proteins present in the adipose tissue extracellular matrix of which Laminin is of interest due to its ability to help in neural regeneration.6

The cellular composition of the SVF ranges from pre-adipocytes to endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, pericytes, fibroblasts, and AT-ASCs. Typically, the SVF also contains blood cells from the capillaries supplying the fat cells. These include erythrocytes, B and T cells, macrophages, monocytes, mast cells, natural killer (NK) cells, hematopoietic stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells, to name a few. The latter two types of cells, namely the hematopoietic stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells play important roles in supporting the viability of existing blood vessels and helping create new ones respectively.

We believe that these other ingredients that make up the SVF cocktail act as an adjuvant to further augment the effect of the autologous transplant of SVF AT-ASCs.

PhotoActivate ASCs for Stem Cell Treatment with AdiLight-2 for Joint Pain

Stem Cell Expansion is Unnecessary

An important point to note is that there is still debate whether freshly isolated ASCs are functionally similar to ASCs which have undergone expansion.18 We believe this debate to be of little consequence because of the high concentrations of regenerative cells we are able to harvest. Expansion is therefore unnecessary. Moreover, our own preliminary results in human subjects (n=32), where wound-healing was tested by the introduction of freshly isolated ASCs into the wound showed more than promising results. It must be stated however, that isolates from the lipoaspirate on its own proved less effective than when the isolates were introduced into either a proprietary Activation Medium containing known growth factor stimulators of stem cells in addition to the patients own platelet-derived growth factors (using PRPKit) for one hour before being re-introduced into the patient.

Centrifuge Separates Dormant Stems Cells From the Fat.

ASCs Require Activation for Full Functionality

The observations stated above confirm that Adipose-derived ASCs though large in number lie dormant within the adipose tissue and that they require activation to come into full functionality for more successful implantation into the host tissue and to begin self-renewal by cell division and formation of other cell types by differentiation and transdifferentiation. This is also in line with the theory that ASCs are called into action only when the tissues within which they reside are dying, damaged or diseased. Further preliminary testing to increase the functionality of the Adipose-derived ASCs using specific frequencies of monochromatic light (LED Technology AdiLight-2) the specifics of which we prefer not to disclose at this time has also revealed significant results.

AdiStem Phase I/II Clinical Trials in Humans on the Safety and Efficacy of Administration of Activated Autologous Adipose-Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction Adult Stem Cells are ongoing and at several stages of completion at various centers around the world for Management of Type II Diabetes, Breast Reconstruction Post-Lumpectomy, Management and Healing of Chronic Diabetic Ulcers and for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Future research areas which have shown promising results in our initial case studies are Osteoarthritis, Emphysema, Stroke, Heart Failure and early stage Parkinsons Disease.

See Where Activated Stem Cells Go

Patents Have Been Filed

AdiStem Ltd. has filed multiple Australian Innovation Patents and multiple International PCT Patents on its methodology of extraction of adipose-derived ASCs from adipose tissue and various methodologies for activating ASCs.

Stem Cells and PRP

AdiStem Stem Cell Kits include standard PRP components. Growth factors (GFs) from the patients own circulating blood platelets are used to activate the adipose-derived ASCs harvested from the same patient.

Wound healing is a complex process, involving a mechanism of complex cascading regulatory events at both the molecular and cellular levels.19,20 Growth factors (GFs) are secreted by a wide variety of cells to regulate the wound healing process in an orderly manner.21,22 Over the last decade, various GFs, including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-), have been used to accelerate the healing process.23-27

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), as a storage vehicle of growth factors, is a new application of tissue engineering which was considered for the application of growth factors. PRP is a concentration of platelets in plasma developed by gradient density centrifugation.28 It contains many growth factors, such as PDGF, TGF-, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), etc.29,30 And it has been successfully used in a variety of clinical applications for improving hard and soft tissue healing.31-35 Platelet-rich plasma has also been shown to enhance the proliferation of human adipose-derived stem cells.36

The (stem cell) procedure involves the taking of blood during or just prior to the patients adipose tissue extraction procedure. Platelets are isolated from the blood and then activated to release their growth factors before photoactivation with AdiLight-2. The adipose-derived ASCs are then mixed with the growth factors containing plasma and activated in the AdiLight-2 for 20 minutes prior to being administered to the patient.

See AdiLight-2 Activation Science & Technology

References

See the rest here:
AdiStem -- Adult Stem Cells Derived from Adipose Tissue ...

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