Differences in the Osteogenic Differentiation Capacity of Omental Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Obese Patients With and Without Metabolic Syndrome

Multiple studies have suggested that the reduced differentiation capacity of multipotent adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) in obese subjects could compromise their use in cell therapy. Our aim was to assess the osteogenic potential of omental ASCs and to examine the status of the isolated CD34negative-enriched fraction of omental-derived ASCs from subjects with different metabolic profiles. Omental ASCs from normal-weight subjects and subjects with or without metabolic syndrome were isolated, and the osteogenic potential of omental ASCs was evaluated. Additionally, osteogenic and clonogenic potential, proliferation rate, mRNA expression levels of proteins involved in redox balance, and fibrotic proteins were examined in the CD34negative-enriched fraction of omental-derived ASCs. Both the omental ASCs and the CD34negative-enriched fraction of omental ASCs from subjects without metabolic syndrome have a greater osteogenic potential than those from subjects with metabolic syndrome. The alkaline phosphatase and osteonectin mRNA were negatively correlated with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase-2 mRNA and the mRNA expression levels of the fibrotic proteins correlated positively with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase-5 mRNA and the homeostasis model assessment. Although the population doubling time was significantly higher in subjects with a body mass index of 25 kg/m2 or greater, only the CD34negative-enriched omental ASC fraction in the subjects with metabolic syndrome had a higher population doubling time than the normal-weight subjects. The osteogenic, clonogenic, fibrotic potential, and proliferation rate observed in vitro suggest that omental ASCs from subjects without metabolic syndrome are more suitable for therapeutic osteogenic applications than those from subjects with metabolic syndrome.