Adipose and lipoma stem cells: A donor‐matched comparison. (28th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Conte, Francesco; Beier, Justus P.; Ruhl, Tim
• Is Part Of: Cell biochemistry and function. Volume 41:Number 2(2023)
• Page Start: 202
• Page End: 210
• Publication Date: 2022-12-28
• Subjects: adipose tissue -- adult stem cell -- cytokines -- differentiation -- soft tissue tumor; Cytochemistry -- Periodicals; Cell metabolism -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; 572
• DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3773
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-6484

Abstract

Abstract: Lipomas are slow growing benign fat tumors that develop in soft tissues of the mesoderm. Thus, the specific (dys‐)function of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been suggested in the development of lipomas, but details of the tumor pathogenesis remain unclear. Existing studies comparing stem cells from native adipose (adipose stem cells [ASCs]) and lipomatous tissues (LSCs) have reported contradicting findings. However, harvesting ASCs and LSCs from different individuals might have influenced proper comparison. Therefore, we aimed to characterize donor‐matched ASCs and LSCs to investigate metabolic activity, proliferation, capability for tri‐linear differentiation (chondrogenesis, adipogenesis, osteogenesis), and the secretome of mature adipocytes and lipomacytes. Both stem cell types did not differ in metabolic activity, but ASCs demonstrated stronger proliferation than LSCs. While there was no difference in proteoglycan accumulation during chondrogenic differentiation, adipogenesis was higher in ASCs, with more lipid vacuole formation. Conversely, LSCs showed increased osteogenesis by higher calcium deposition. Lipomacytes showed stronger secretory activity and released higher levels of certain adipokines. Our findings indicated that LSCs possessed important characteristics of MSCs, including ASCs. However, LSCs' low proliferation and adipogenic differentiation behavior did not appear to account for enhanced tissue proliferation, but the secretome of lipomacytes could contribute to lipomatous neoplasm. Significance statement: Lipomatous soft‐tissue tumors are the most common neoplasms encountered by physicians. Involvement of adipose stem cells (ASCs) in the development of lipomas has been suggested, but the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of this tumor remain unclear. Donor matched comparison between ASCs from native fat tissue versus stem cells from lipoma tissue (LSCs) indicate that (1) LSCs possess lower proliferation rate, (2) LSCs have minor adipogenic but stronger osteogenic differentiation potential, which both would not account for lipoma neoplasm; (3) mature lipomacytes and adipocytes secret the same soluble factors, but lipomacytes exert stronger secretory activity. These findings shift the focus from precursor to the mature cells when exploring the pathogenesis of lipoma.