Isolation, characterization, and differentiaton of baboon adipose-derived stem cells: A nonhuman primate model for human stem cell therapy and regeneration

Therapies from both somatic and pluripotent stem cells are rapidly approaching clinical application. To ensure that these therapies can be used safely, a large animal model is critically needed. In this study, we demonstrated that baboons possess a reservoir of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (bASCs) that can be isolated and further differentiated into various clinically relevant cell lineages. Baboon adipose tissue obtained during necropsy was processed according to established methods to obtain a stromal vascular fraction followed by the selection and expansion of bASCs. These stem cells were analyzed using FACS analysis and immunocytochemistry to detect a panel of positive and negative selection markers commonly used for the characterization of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) populations in humans. Gene expression analysis of stem cell specific transcripts showed that bASCs maintained their multipotency over serial passages (P1-P6). Additionally, cells were differentiated in conditions known to induce adipogenic, osteogenic, and vasculogenic lineages confirmed through expression levels of differentiation specific genes, histological assays, and cell morphology. These experiments validate the baboon as an ideal pre-clinical model system for optimizing the efficacy and safety of stem cell therapies derived from ASCs.