Adipogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose Tissue–Derived Stem Cells Obtained from Cryopreserved Adipose Aspirates

Abstract

Although frozen adipose tissue is frequently used for soft tissue augmentation, the viability of frozen fat remains a controversy. The cryopreservation of adipose tissue is important for the future use of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and adipocytes. To determine whether optimal cryopreservation techniques with regard to the addition of cryopreservative agents and preservation temperature is essential for the long-term storage of adipose tissue and whether ASCs from cryopreserved adipose aspirates are reliable for use in adipogenic differentiation. Adipose tissue was frozen directly or with cryoprotectant at -20 degrees C or -80 degrees C for 1 year. The viability of adipose aspirates and the differentiation of ASCs isolated from adipose tissue were evaluated. The viability of adipose aspirates frozen with dimethyl sulfoxide at -80 degrees C was approximately 87% after 2 months of storage. Moreover, ASCs from adipose tissue stored with cryoprotectant survived successfully for 1 year and differentiated into adipocytes, although ASCs were not detected in the directly frozen adipose tissue. Adipose tissue cryopreserved with cryoprotectant and stored at optimal temperature might prove to be a reliable source of human ASCs and adipocytes.