ENGRAFTMENT OF HUMAN ADIPOSE DERIVED STEM CELLS DELIVERED IN A HYALURONIC ACID PREPARATION IN MICE

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the implant of human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) delivered in hyaluronic acid gel (HA), injected subcutaneously in athymic mice. Methods: Control implants: HA plus culture media was injected in the subcutaneous of the left subscapular area of 12 athymic mice. ADSC implants: HA plus ADSC suspended in culture media was injected in the subcutaneous, at the contra lateral area, of the same animals. With 8 weeks, animals were sacrificed and the recovered implants were processed for extraction of genomic DNA, and histological study by hematoxylin–eosin staining and immunofluorescence using anti-human vimentin and anti-von Willebrand factor antibodies. Results–Controls: Not visualized at the injection site. An amorphous substance was observed in hematoxylin–eosin stained sections. Human vimentin and anti von Willebrand factor were not detected. No human DNA was detected. ADSC implants-A plug was visible at the site of injection. Fusiform cells were observed in sections stained by hematoxylin-eosin and both human vimentin and anti von Willebrand factor were detected by immunofluorescence. The presence of human DNA was confirmed. Conclusion: The delivery of ADSC in preparations of hyaluronic acid assured cells engraftment at the site of injection.