Spinal cord repair with activated fat
Activated fat was developed by the University of Milan after several years of research funded by Neurogel en Marche.
Activated fat comes from the patient’s adipose tissue.
This adipose tissue contains stem cells, notably mesenchymal stem cells.
The innovative aspect of the therapy consists of using adipose tissue as a three-dimensional matrix for cell growth.
A specific mechanical activation of the adipose tissue gives both the tissue and the stem cells it contains significantly enhanced natural characteristics:
– A longer survival time in ischemic conditions (poor circulation and lack of oxygen)
– Highly amplified anti-inflammatory factors
– Key gene expression involved in tissue regeneration
– Immunosuppressive factors that block growth inhibitors
Mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue
Mesenchymal stem cells are mainly found in bones and adipose tissue and are capable of regenerating other cells in the human body.
These cells, known as mesenchymal stem cells, were discovered in the early 1990s. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue have been the focus of significant research for several years. Adipose tissue is easy to extract and poses no risk to the patient. It is also relatively straightforward to isolate mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue. These cells have been shown in culture to be capable of generating different types of muscle cells, bone cells, tendon cells, and neuronal cells.
Unfortunately, while mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into muscle, cartilage, bone, and nerve cells in vitro, attempts in vivo have not produced the expected results. These cells do not survive long enough and lack the time and capacity to properly generate new tissue. Various culture methods are being implemented and tested worldwide to address this issue.
The concept of mechanotransduction with activated fat
In studies conducted by the University of Milan, the basic principle was to keep the mesenchymal stem cells in their natural environment: the adipose tissue.
By applying various orbital and helical forces to the adipose tissue, under certain pressure and for defined periods, a phenomenon of tissue stress is created, triggering a cascade of events within the adipose tissue.
The mesenchymal stem cells then develop enhanced regenerative and tissue-regulating capacities, while also suppressing inflammation.
They act as a control tower, re-expressing the key factors of tissue regeneration.
This action on the cells through mechanical forces is called mechanotransduction. The cells overexpress genes and cytokines that are almost absent in regular adipose tissue.
This mechanical action changes tissue expression without altering the genetic code. This process is known as epigenetics.
Some scientific data on the properties of fat with or without activation
To explore the topic further, you can read Michèle Zander’s translation of the article from the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, particularly the table on page 4. This is a simplified document on adipose tissue activation.
Thus, with this treatment via mechanotransduction induced through these cells, here is what happens:
– High levels of IL-15 directly inhibit adipogenesis, but for fat in this case, the high IL-15 levels make the tissue highly IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE IN VIVO.
– High levels of TSG-6 also decrease adipogenesis but additionally provide powerful ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS IN VIVO within the fat.
– High levels of OCT4 and SOX2 are key transcription factors essential for CELLULAR RENEWAL.
– With high levels of nano-g, hADSCs are able to survive, migrate to damaged sites, and become NEURAL STEM CELLS AFTER TRANSFORMATION, IN VIVO.
We thus have what is called ACTIVATED FAT, which actually contains:
– A new type of neural stem cells that resist growth inhibitors through powerful IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE FACTORS.
– New neural stem cells that induce NEUROPROTECTION via strong ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FACTORS.
– New neural stem cells capable of multiplying IN VIVO and differentiating into NEURONS AND/OR OLIGODENDROCYTES.