Angiogenic capacity of human omental stem cells

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The goals of the present study are to obtain, expand and characterize a stem cell population from human omentum and to evaluate its in vivo angiogenic capacities. METHODS: Human omental CD34+ cells were obtained from samples of human omentum by density gradient centrifugation in Ficoll. Proliferative pattern, marker expression (by flow cytometry) and angiogenic growth factor synthesis by omental cell cultures were determined. In vivo angiogenic capacity of the cells was evaluated in rats. RESULTS: Omental stem cells showed a high rate of proliferation (Ki67 staining), expressed CD34 marker and synthesized bFGF and VEGF. When implanted in rats, omental cells promoted neovascularization. Human omental cells were localized in rat tissue, mainly forming the endothelium of neo-vessels. Implantation of omental cells also facilitated angiogenesis of rat origin. CONCLUSION: CD34+ cell population of human omentum could be responsible for the clinical benefit of omental transplantation by promoting angiogenesis and synthesizing angiogenic growth factors to facilitate revascularization of injured tissue.