Evidence that osteogenic and neurogenic differentiation capability of epidural adipose tissue derived stem cells were more pronounced than subcutaneous one.

Background The management of the dura related complications, such as the repairment of dural tears and reconstruction of large dural defects, has still been the most challenging subjects of neurosurgery. Numerous surgical techniques and synthetic or autologous adjuvant materials have been emerged as an adjunct to primary dural closure, which may result in further complications or side effects. Therefore, subcutaneous autologous free adipose tissue graft has been recommended for the protection of the central nervous system and repair restore/reconstruct of the meninges. In addition, human adipose tissue is also a source of multipotent stem cells. However, epidural adipose tissue appears to be more promising than the subcutaneous tissue because of its proximal location and intercellular communications with the spinal cord. Here, we aimed to define and compare the differentiation capacity of adipose stem cells (ASC) derived from subcutaneous or epidural adipose tissue. Methods ASCs were isolated from human subcutaneous and epidural adipose tissue specimens which were harvested from the primary incisional site and the lumbar epidural space during lumbar spinal surgery. Results Our results indicated that both types of ASCs expressed the cell surface markers which are commonly expressed by stem cells; however, epidural ASCs had lower CD90 expression than subcutaneous ASCs. Moreover, we have demonstrated that osteogenic and neurogenic differentiation capacity of epidural adipose tissue-derived ASCs were more pronounced than subcutaneous adipose tissue-derived ASCs. Conclusion Consequently, characterization of epidural ASCs, will pave the way for new studies investigating their use in dural and also central nervous system healing and recovery after an injury.