Angiogenic characteristics of human stromal vascular fraction in ischemic hindlimb

Introduction: In this study, we sought to characterize the angio-vasculogenic property of human adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and to determine the therapeutic potential of SVF in the context of experimental ischemia. Although human SVF is used for cell therapy, its angiogenic and vasculogenic characteristics have not been fully elucidated. Methods and results: We conducted flow cytometry, microarray, quantitative (q)-PCR, Matrigel tube formation assays and in vivo therapeutic assays using an ischemic hind limb mouse model. Gene/micro RNA microarray, quantitative (q)-PCR results revealed that the representative pro-angiogenic factors were highly upregulated in SVF compared with human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs). In addition, SVF exhibited high expression of endothelium-specific genes and showed robust in vitro micro-vascular formation. SVF was transplanted into ischemic mouse hind limbs and compared with ASC transplantation. SVF transplantation prevented limb loss and augmented blood perfusion, indicating that SVF promotes neovascularization in hind limb ischemia. Transplanted SVF showed high vasculogenic potential in vivo compared with transplanted ASCs. Conclusions: Our data indicate that SVF has remarkable therapeutic effects on hind limb ischemia via robust angiogenic and vasculogenic activity. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.