Effects of Age on the Biological Properties of Cryopreserved Adipose-Derived Stem Cells and ASC-Enriched Fat Grafts

Background Donor age is an important factor affecting the biological characteristics of human adipose-derived stem cells. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of age on the biological properties of cryopreserved adipose-derived stem cells and fat survival of cell-assisted lipotransfer. Methods Human lipoaspirates were obtained from 60 healthy female patients (aged 18–65 years) who underwent abdominal liposuction. Samples were divided into three groups according to donor age: group A, 18–29 years; group B, 30–49 years; and group C, 50–65 years. Adipose-derived stem cells were obtained by in vitro culture at the second passage and cryopreserved for 4 weeks. The cryopreserved ASCs were examined for biological characteristics, including cell proliferation, wound healing and adipogenic differentiation. Then, the fat survival of cryopreserved ASC-assisted fat transplantation was compared at different ages. Results SVF viability decreased with increasing age. Moreover, there was a decline in cell proliferation and migration of ASCs with increasing age. A significant difference was found in the adipogenic differentiation of ASCs in the three groups. There were significant differences in graft retention in different age groups. ASC-assisted fat grafting was more effective in young people than in elderly people. Conclusions Honor age affects the proliferation and migration of adipose-derived stem cells but not the adipogenic differentiation potential of ASCs. Cryopreserved ASCs from younger people more effectively improved the fat survival of grafts. Level of Evidence V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .