Adult Stem Cell Subsets from Adult Human Dermis

Abstract

Adult stem cells possess the ability to differentiate and mature into defined cell types; however, tissue-specificity and donor and culture inconsistencies have presented a challenge in identifying these cells. Adult adherent dermal cell-products have been efficiently utilized for isogenic cosmetic therapies. The purpose of this study is to identify, isolate, and characterize progenitor subsets from adult adherent dermal cells capable of ex vivo differentiation. LAVIV® adult dermal cells were independently immunoselected for CD146, CD271, and CD73/CD90/CD105 to investigate the mesenchymal differentiation capacity and possible enrichment in the purified fractions. After differentiation, the osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic potential and cell-specific gene expression were evaluated and compared for each phenotype. Adult dermal cells possess the ability to differentiate into the three cell lineages, osteocyte, chondrocyte, and adipocyte that co-express the adult stem cell immunophenotypic markers CD146 and CD271 with independent enrichment of the multipotent capacity for both fractions. We conclude that subpopulations in human dermal primary cultures possess the potential to differentiate into other cell types providing a novel source of multipotent cells for regenerative medicine.