Asian Spine J.  2019 Jun;13(3):361-367. 10.31616/asj.2018.0215.

Epidural Fat-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell: First Report of Epidural Fat-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell

• Lee GW
• Seo MS
• Kang KK
• Oh SK

• KMID: 2449789
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.31616/asj.2018.0215

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. PURPOSE: To determine whether epidural fat (EF) tissue contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Spine surgeons are unaware of the contents of EF tissue and the reason for its presence between the ligamentum flavum and the dura mater; therefore, EF tissues are routinely eliminated during surgical procedures. However, EF removal causes certain postoperative problems, such as post-laminectomy syndrome. We hypothesized that the EF tissue may play a significant supportive role for the neural structures and other nearby conditions.
METHODS
EF tissues were obtained from consenting patients (n=3) during posterior decompression surgery of the lumbar spine. The primary cells were isolated and cultured as per previously described methods with some modifications, and the cell morphology and cumulation were examined. Thereafter, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), a fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, and differentiation potency for differentiation into osteoblasts, chondroblasts, and adipocytes were investigated to identify whether the cells derived from EF are MSC.
RESULTS
The cells from the EF tissue had a fibroblast or neuron-like morphology that persisted until the senescence at p18. MSC-specific genes, such as OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, MYC, and GAPDH were expressed in the RT-PCR study, while MSC-specific surface markers such as CD105, CD90, and CD73 were exhibited in the FACS analysis. The differentiation properties of EF-MSC for differentiation into the three types of cells (osteoblast, chondroblast, and adipocyte) were also confirmed.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the cell culture, FACS analysis, RT-PCR analysis, and differentiation potent outcomes, all the features of the cells corresponded to MSC. This is the first study to identify EF-MSC derived from the EF tissue.

Keyword

Epidural fat; Mesenchymal stem cells; Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction; Fluorescence-activated cell sorting; Differentiation

MeSH Terms

Adipocytes
Aging
Cell Culture Techniques
Chondrocytes
Decompression
Dura Mater
Fibroblasts
Flow Cytometry
Humans
Ligamentum Flavum
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells*
Osteoblasts
Spine
Surgeons