Hypoxic Culturing Enhances the Wound-Healing Potential of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

Abstract

Background:

Adipose tissue is one of the richest sources of mesenchymal stem cells that exhibit an outstanding ability to regenerate skin.

The Problem:

Although the anatomical sites of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in the body are relatively oxygen-deficient (i.e., 1%–5% oxygen content), ASCs are usually cultured under normoxic conditions, and long-term culturing of ASCs in normoxia may induce their senescence.

Basic/Clinical Science Advances:

The review is an overview of the cellular responses of ASCs during hypoxia, which collectively increase the wound-healing potential of ASCs. Furthermore, the mechanism of action for stimulation by hypoxia (i.e., a pivotal role of reactive oxygen species and related signal pathways) will be discussed.

Clinical Care Relevance:

Hypoxia is a critical stimulatory factor for ASCs. Therefore, understanding the response and adaptation of ASCs to hypoxia may be invaluable for developing novel cell therapeutic strategies.

Conclusion:

Culturing ASCs under hypoxia may uniquely benefit proliferation, stemness, migration, and growth factor secretion. Therefore, the preconditioning of ASCs by hypoxia shows a prominent wound-healing effect in clinical use.