Fig. 1
Adipose-derived cells: origin, immunophenotype, morphology, and differentiation potential. Lipoaspirate can be easily obtained from the patient and processed to obtain a heterogeneous cell population, the stromal vascular fraction (SVF). Adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASC) can be isolated from the SVF by in vitro cultivation on plastic surfaces. ASC are characterized mainly by mesenchymal stem cell marker (CD73, CD90, CD105) at the expense of hematopoietic stem cell marker (CD45) and their spindle-shaped morphology with the ability to differentiate into the adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. The differentiation potential can be analyzed by histological stainings, such as Oil red O for adipogenic, Alizarin red for osteogenic, and Alcian Blue for chondrogenic differentiation