Dam PTM, Nguyen DD, Ngo ATT, Tran AM, Nguyen TT, Nguyen PV, Nguyen CQ, Nguyen ATT, Pham QTT, Than UTT. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from solid tissue and lipoaspirates: A comparative study of phenotype, growth, and secretome. World J Stem Cells 2026; 18(1): 110470 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i1.110470]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Uyen Thi Trang Than, PhD, Assistant Professor, Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Ocean Park, Da Ton, Gia Lam, Ha Noi 100000, Viet Nam. uyen.ttt@vinuni.edu.vn
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Cell Biology
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Basic Study
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Jan 26, 2026 (publication date) through Jan 26, 2026
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World Journal of Stem Cells
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1948-0210
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Dam PTM, Nguyen DD, Ngo ATT, Tran AM, Nguyen TT, Nguyen PV, Nguyen CQ, Nguyen ATT, Pham QTT, Than UTT. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from solid tissue and lipoaspirates: A comparative study of phenotype, growth, and secretome. World J Stem Cells 2026; 18(1): 110470 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i1.110470]
World J Stem Cells. Jan 26, 2026; 18(1): 110470 Published online Jan 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i1.110470
Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from solid tissue and lipoaspirates: A comparative study of phenotype, growth, and secretome
Phuong Thi Minh Dam, Dai Dang Nguyen, Anh Thi Thu Ngo, Anh Minh Tran, Truc Thanh Nguyen, Phong Van Nguyen, Chi Quynh Nguyen, Anh Thi Tuyet Nguyen, Quynh-Trang Thi Pham, Uyen Thi Trang Than
Phuong Thi Minh Dam, Anh Thi Thu Ngo, Anh Minh Tran, Truc Thanh Nguyen, Phong Van Nguyen, Chi Quynh Nguyen, Anh Thi Tuyet Nguyen, Quynh-Trang Thi Pham, Uyen Thi Trang Than, Vinmec Hi-Tech Center, Vinmec Healthcare System, Ha Noi 100000, Vietnam
Dai Dang Nguyen, Vinmec International Hospital, Vinmec Healthcare System, Ha Noi 100000, Vietnam
Quynh-Trang Thi Pham, Uyen Thi Trang Than, Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Ha Noi 100000, Vietnam
Author contributions: Dam PTM and Than UTT designed the experiments; Dam PTM, Nguyen DD, and Than UTT provided the study materials or patients; Ngo ATT, Tran AM, Nguyen TT, Nguyen PV, Nguyen CQ, Nguyen ATT, and Pham QTT performed the studies; Than UTT reviewed the data and manuscript content; All authors performed the studies, analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: The study was reviewed and approved by the Vinmec International General Hospital Joint Stock Company’s Ethics Committee (Ethical approval number: 01/2023/CN-HĐĐĐ VMEC). Tissues were only harvested when donors signed written informed consent before donating their samples.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Uyen Thi Trang Than, PhD, Assistant Professor, Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Ocean Park, Da Ton, Gia Lam, Ha Noi 100000, Viet Nam. uyen.ttt@vinuni.edu.vn
Received: June 10, 2025 Revised: July 20, 2025 Accepted: November 18, 2025 Published online: January 26, 2026 Processing time: 227 Days and 12.2 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered a promising therapy for various diseases due to their strong potential in regenerative medicine and immunomodulation. The tissue source of MSCs has gained attention for its role in influencing their function, accessibility, and readiness for clinical use.
AIM
To identify the most suitable adipose source for MSC isolation and expansion for further applications.
METHODS
We isolated MSCs from solid adipose tissue and liposuction aspirates using the enzyme method. The MSCs were examined for their expansion using population doubling time, differentiation capacity using multilineage differentiation induction, surface markers using flow cytometry, and stability of chromosomes using the karyotyping method. Growth factors and cytokines in MSC-conditioned media were analyzed using the Luminex assay.
RESULTS
MSCs were isolated from solid adipose tissue and lipoaspirates and expanded from passage 0 to passage 2. All adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) exhibited the typical elongated, spindle-shaped morphology and comparable proliferation rate. They expressed positive surface markers [cluster of differentiation 73 (CD73): > 97%, CD90: > 98%, and CD105: > 95%], and negative markers (< 1%). All MSCs expressed similar levels of stemness genes (octamer-binding transcription factor 4, SRY-box 2, Krüppel-like factor, and MYC), colony-forming, and trilineage differentiation potential. Karyotyping analysis revealed normal chromosomal patterns in all samples, except one sample exhibiting a polymorphism (1qh+). Furthermore, the growth factors and cytokines of hepatocyte growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor A, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-8 were detected in all AD-MSC conditioned media; but fibroblast growth factor-2 and keratinocyte growth factor were selectively expressed in conditioned media from solid or lipoaspirate AD-MSCs, respectively.
CONCLUSION
These findings indicate that AD-MSCs from both adipose sources possess all of the characteristic features of MSCs with source-specific secretome differences, which are suitable for further expansion and various clinical applications.
Core Tip: This study compared mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) derived from solid adipose tissue and lipoaspirates, showing that both sources yielded cells with similar morphology, growth, stemness, and differentiation potential. While overall characteristics were comparable, some growth factors were uniquely expressed depending on the source. These findings support the suitability of both adipose sources for MSC isolation and highlight subtle differences that may influence future therapeutic applications.
