Adipose stem cells from type 2 diabetic mice exhibit therapeutic potential in wound healing

BACKGROUND: Diabetic patients suffer from impaired wound healing. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy represents a promising approach toward improving skin wound healing through the release of soluble growth factors and cytokines that stimulate new vessel formation and modulate inflammation. Whether adipose tissue-derived MSCs (ASCs) from type 2 diabetes (T2D) donors are suitable for skin damage repair remains largely unknown. METHODS: In this study, we compared the phenotype and functionality of ASCs harvested from high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2D or control mice, and assessed their abilities to promote wound healing in an excisional wound splinting mouse model with T2D. RESULTS: T2D ASCs expressed similar cellular markers as control ASCs but secreted less hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). T2D ASCs were somewhat less effective in promoting healing of the wound, as manifested by slightly reduced re-epithelialization, cutaneous appendage regeneration, and collagen III deposition in wound tissues. In vitro, T2D ASCs promoted proliferation and migration of skin fibroblasts to a comparable extent as control ASCs via suppression of inflammation and macrophage infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: From these findings, we conclude that, although ASCs from T2D mice are marginally inferior to control ASCs, they possess comparable therapeutic effects in wound healing.