Hypoxic Culturing Enhances the Wound-Healing Potential of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.

BACKGROUND Adipose tissue is one of the richest sources of mesenchymal stem cells that exhibit an outstanding ability to regenerate skin. THE PROBLEM Although the anatomical sites of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in the body are relatively oxygen-deficient (i.e., 1%-5% oxygen content), ASCs are usually cultured under normoxic conditions, and long-term culturing of ASCs in normoxia may induce their senescence. BASIC/CLINICAL SCIENCE ADVANCES The review is an overview of the cellular responses of ASCs during hypoxia, which collectively increase the wound-healing potential of ASCs. Furthermore, the mechanism of action for stimulation by hypoxia (i.e., a pivotal role of reactive oxygen species and related signal pathways) will be discussed. CLINICAL CARE RELEVANCE Hypoxia is a critical stimulatory factor for ASCs. Therefore, understanding the response and adaptation of ASCs to hypoxia may be invaluable for developing novel cell therapeutic strategies. CONCLUSION Culturing ASCs under hypoxia may uniquely benefit proliferation, stemness, migration, and growth factor secretion. Therefore, the preconditioning of ASCs by hypoxia shows a prominent wound-healing effect in clinical use.