Aussie researchers develop way to form stem cells from fat, could lead to human tissue regeneration

Fat in the body is generally seen as unhealthy. People sweat it out at the gym to lose fat or have it liposuctioned. But a new study by scientists at the University of New South Wales found a good use for fat.

It could form stem cells which could lead to a system of regenerating tissue in humans. The system could be used to repair damaged human tissue in situ, including bone fractures, torn muscles and spinal discs, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

The researchers took human fat cells and applied two compounds. One compound made the fat cells lose its memory and convert it into multipotent stem cells which are transplanted into damaged tissue and take cue from surrounding cells when proliferating, explains Associate Professor John Pimanda, lead author of the study.

The new method reprogrammes fat and bone cells. After successfully trying the technique in mice, the researchers are assessing if adult human fat cells reprogrammed into induced multipotent stem cells could safely repair mice’s damaged tissue. It is the same approach used by Helen Little, an Australian researcher, in growing a mini kidney in 2015 and mimics the way salamanders grow new limbs, notes The Independent.

It has better advantage over the use of embryonic stem cells to develop cell tissue in the lab, the authors say. Vashe Chandrakanthan, co-author of the research, explains that the tumour-forming capacity of embryonic stem cells makes it not a good material to treat damaged tissues.

Pimanda says human trials could start in late 2017 if the trials on mice are successful. The human trials would be led by Ralph Mobbs, a neurosurgeon from the university’s Prince of Wales Clinical School. Mobbs adds the therapy has huge potential to treat neck and back pain, injury of spinal disc, joint and muscle degeneration and hasten recovery after complex surgery.