Human and mouse adipose-derived cells support feeder-independent induction of pluripotent stem cells.

Here we report on the use of human adipose tissue, more commonly known as fat tissue, as a promising and viable source to generate patient specific human pluripotent stem cell lines (iPS). The use of human adipose tissue as a starting source for human cells capable of being reprogrammed was also reported by another California-based research group during preparation of our work for publication which confirms the viability as a source for reprogramming to iPS. In this publication we report on significant findings that, 1) these cells are much more efficient to be reprogrammed than the skin biopsy cells that have been previously reported, 2) these cells can be reprogrammed to iPS (stem cell) lines without the use of animal products commonly used in stem cell culture, like mouse-feeder cells or bovine growth media products. We discuss our findings on why these fat-sourced cells appear to be more amenable to reprograming. This represents an advancement towards identifying reliable and obtainable sources of human cells that show good efficiency to be converted in to iPS stem cells without reliance on the xenobiotic (animal sourced) products that are commonly used in previously reported efforts. In a broader context this moves the field of stem cell-based therapeutics closer to feasibility for human based clinical trials.