Adipose Tissue Stem Cell Banking

THIS SERVICE IS NOT CURRENTLY OFFERED BY STEM PROTECT IN THE UK

Stem cell banking is only a recent scientific development. This means most adults missed the chance to store their stem cells collected from umbilical cord blood and tissue at birth or dental pulp from milk teeth. Newly developed and affordable adipose tissue cell banking offers a chance to store stem cells later in life for adults.

Stem cells can be collected from fatty tissue that’s removed during liposuction procedures. These cells are then stored and potentially used to help treat various health conditions in the future. Research is ongoing and Stem Protect doesn’t currently offer adipose-derived stem cell banking in the UK.

What is adipose tissue?

Adipose tissue is body fat. This is a connective tissue found across the human body under the skin (subcutaneous fat), between internal organs (visceral fat) and in the inner cavities of bones (bone marrow adipose tissue). The primary purpose of adipose tissues is to store energy in the form of lipids (fat).

Having too much or too little adipose tissue may result in health problems. Excess adipose tissue often leads to obesity. When liposuction is used to reduce or eliminate localised adiposity (or treat obesity) the fatty (adipose) tissues are removed. These contain valuable mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Previously, the adipose tissue and all the MSCs it contains would be discarded after such surgery. Today, more stem cells are being extracted and stored from adipose tissue as these mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to help repair joints, bones, damaged nerves, and muscles.

What can adipose tissue stem cells help treat?

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) taken from adipose tissue can help repair and regenerate cells, tissues, and organs. They’re mainly used in the fields of regenerative medicine, plastic surgery, and cosmetology. The use of adipose tissue stem cells is now a leading field in regenerative medicine because of their effectiveness, and ease of harvesting through a minimally invasive procedure.

MSCs are also the subject of scores of promising medical trials that could be used to treat major health conditions in the near future. These include type 1 diabetes, spinal injuries, and lupus. Current treatments and therapies based on blood-forming stem cells include:

• Cleft palate repair
• Sickle cell
• HIV/AIDS
• Severe Combined Immunodeficiency
• Knee cartilage repair

How does adipose-derived stem cell banking work?

The process of collecting and storing mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue involves a minimally invasive procedure. Normally the adipose-derived stem cells are collected during liposuction before they’re stored in a laboratory. The process for adipose stem cell banking generally involves these steps:

• During liposuction, a doctor will clean and numb the stomach area.
• A small incision is made, and a needle is introduced into the fatty area of the stomach.
• Fat/adipose tissues are extracted using a special syringe.
• Samples of adipose tissue containing MSCs are collected and sent to a laboratory.
• A concentrated adipose-derived stem cell sample is separated by being spun in a machine.
• The adipose-derived stem cells are then safely stored in the facility for potential future use.

At Stem Protect we don’t currently offer adipose tissue cell banking as a service. However, our expert team can help if you want more information about adipose tissue banking or to discuss any of our other services such as cord blood and tissue banking or dental pulp storage.

Call 0800 211 8389 or contact us online today and speak to the experts at Stem Protect to discuss how adipose stem cell tissue banking can help protect your future health or treat existing conditions.