Journal of Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Abstract

Sera of Overweight Patients Alter Adipogenesis and Osteogenesis of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells, a Phenomenon that also Persists in Weight Loss Individuals

Angela Ferone, Giovanni Messina, Nicola Alessio, Stefania Capasso, Marilena Cipollaro, Marcellino Monda, Gianfranco Peluso, Umberto Galderisi and Giovanni Di Bernardo

Background: Overweight and obesity represents a complex interaction of genetics, diet, metabolism, and physical activity. Abnormal or excessive body fat accumulation increases the risk of pathologies, such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Methods and results: In a previous paper, we investigated the influence of overweight individuals’ sera on in vitro biology of mesenchymal stromal cells, which contain a subpopulation of multipotent stem cells. This report extended the study by evaluating effects of sera collected from weight loss patients on stromal cultures.

Results showed that an increase in fat mass induces physiological changes that negatively impact on stromal stem cell adipogenesis and osteogenesis with a bias toward adipocyte differentiation. This phenomenon occurred with sera from overweight patients and persisted also with sera of individuals that underwent loss of weight. Significant changes in obesity related cytokines were detected in sera of overweight and weight loss compared to healthy weight individuals. These changes may explain some of the biological effects detected on stromal stem cell functions.