BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells can be expanded rapidly in vitro and differentiated into multiple mesodermal cell types. This study was planned to isolate human adipose tissue stromal cells (hATSCs) from human liposuction tissues and to investigate the changes of tactile threshold after hATSC transplantation in animal neuropathic pain models.

METHODS: hATSCs were grown under control conditions in alpha-MEM/10% FBS. To prepare neuropathic pain model rats, thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats that had the average body weight of 208 ± 5 g, had an experimental nerve injury by cutting or clamping of sural and tibial nerves. The tactile threshold was measured by von Frey hair filament at preinjury and postoperative day (POD) 1, 2, 3, 7, 14. Transplantation of hATSCs was performed after measurement of tactile threshold at POD3.

RESULTS: hATSCs grew as a monolayer of large, flat, and spindle-shaped cells. The tactile threshold after spared nerve injury was significantly decreased since one day after cutting or clamping of nerves (P < 0.01). The percent changes of a tactile threshold in clamping and hATSC group were decreased to 59.8 ± 7.1% (POD7) and 52.6 ± 5.1% (POD14) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: This results was suggested that hATSCs could be isolated from human adipose tissue easily. Althogh it needs more long-term investigation hATSCs might be used as a method of therapy for neuropathic pain.