Dedifferentiated fat cells： an alternative source of adult multipotent cells from the adipose tissues

When adipose-derived stem cells （ASCs） arc retrieved from the stromal vascular portion of adipose tissue, a large amount of mature adipocytes are often discarded. However, by modified ceiling culture technique based on their buoyancy, mature adipocytes can be easily isolated from the adipose cell suspension and dediffercn- tiated into lipid-frce fibroblast-like cells, named dediffercntiated fat （DFAT） cells. DFAT cells rc-establish active proliferation ability and undertake multipotent capacities. Compared with ASCs and other adult stem cells, DFAT cells showed unique advantages in their abundance, isolation and homogeneity. In this concise review, the establishment and culture methods of DFAT cells arc introduced and the current profiles of their cellular nature are summarized. Under proper inducti~,n culture in vitro or environment in vivo, DFAT cells could demonstrate adipogenic, osteogenic, chondrogenie and myogenic potentials. In angiogenie conditions, DFAT cells could exhibit perivascular characteristics antt elicit neovascularization. Our preliminary findings also suggested the pericyte phenotype underlying such cell lineage, which supported a novel interpretation about the common origin of mesenchymal stem cells and tissue-specific stem cells within blood vessel walls. Current research on DFAT cells indicated that this alternative source of adult multipotent cells has great potential in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.