Factors Affecting the Population of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Adipose-Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction

BACKGROUND: Recently, the adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction has become the most popular source for obtaining mesenchymal stem cells because it is less expensive and is easier to perform than bone marrow concentrate harvesting. However, no study has investigated the factors affecting the mesenchymal stem cell population in adipose tissue derived stromal vascular fraction. Understanding the interaction of patient factors with the mesenchymal stem cell count and cell viability in adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction could provide crucial information for surgeons to improve patient selection and outcomes. AIMS: To evaluate the factors affecting the mesenchymal stem cell count, total cell count, and cell viability in adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 30 patients who underwent liposuction to harvest adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction at our stem cell center. Operative variables, such as lipoaspirate amount and donor areas from the stromal vascular fraction harvesting site, included the entire abdomen and lower abdomen. We recorded the mesenchymal stem cell population, cell viability, and cell count of stromal vascular fraction, and we analyzed the results to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: The factors that were found to be significantly related are as follows; between cell number and age (p=0.001) and amount of lipoaspirate (p<0.001); between cell viability and body mass index (p=0.005) and hypertension (p=0.047); and between coronary artery disease and mesenchymal stem cell counts (p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: The relationship of patient factors (age, body mass index, hypertension, and coronary artery disease) with cell viability and mesenchymal stem cell counts may be important for clinical applications. However, the effect of medications on these relationships should be investigated in larger studies.