Stem cells from adipose tissue show promise in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures

A team at Osaka Metropolitan University has used stem cells extracted from adipose tissue, the body’s fatty tissue, to treat spinal fractures in rats similar to those caused by osteoporosis in humans. These cells offer the advantage of being easy to harvest, even in elderly people, and causing little stress to the body, suggesting a non-invasive way to treat bone diseases.

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become brittle and prone to fracture. Due to the aging population, it is estimated that the number of patients in Japan will exceed 15 million in the near future. Among osteoporosis-related fractures, compression fractures of the spine, known as osteoporotic vertebral fractures, are the most common type of fracture and pose a serious problem, leading to the need for long-term care and a significant decrease in quality of life.

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are a possible solution to this problem. These cells are multipotent, meaning they can differentiate into many different cell types. Forming ADSCs into three-dimensional spherical clusters, known as spheroids, has been reported to enhance their ability to repair tissues. When these spheroids predifferentiate toward bone cells, their ability to promote bone healing is enhanced.

A research team led by Osaka Metropolitan University including graduate medical student Yuta Sawada and Dr. Shinji Takahashi focused on ADSCs for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. ADSCs were grown in bone-differentiated spheroids and combined with β-tricalcium phosphate, a material widely used for bone reconstruction, to successfully treat rats with spinal fractures.

Bone regeneration and strength improved significantly in rats transplanted with the complex. They also discovered that genes involved in bone formation and regeneration were also activated.

This study has revealed the potential of bone differentiation spheroids using ADSC for the development of new treatments for spinal fractures. “Since the cells are obtained from fat, they place little burden on the body, ensuring patient safety.”

Yuta Sawada, student, School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University

“This simple and effective method can treat even difficult fractures and accelerate healing,” added Dr. Takahashi. “This technique is expected to become a new treatment that helps prolong the healthy life of patients.”

The study was published in Bone & Joint Research.