Liposuction fat could further stem cell research

A fascinating article recently cropped up in the Telegraph that revealed how Stanford University believes that fat removed during liposuction could be converted into coveted stem cells, negating the need to painstakingly grow them through other methods.

At the moment, scientists still have to spend weeks cultivating the stem cells that are crucial for research into diseases and conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. Even then, these indispensable cells are incredibly difficult and labour-intensive to come by.

But now it seems that there could be an alternative on the horizon. According to the research, fat taken from the body during the cosmetic surgical procedure of liposuction can be easily turned into stem cells, thus cutting out weeks spent growing them from skin cells. Skin cells have so far been the most commonly used cells for transforming into embryonic stem cells, the type that can be manipulated into any type of cell required.

It’s an absorbing find, particularly as recent years have seen a lot of controversy surrounding the development of work with stem cells – particularly concerning how to obtain them.

The fat currently extracted during liposuction procedures is carefully disposed of as medical waste, but the recycling of such unwanted materials could prove incredibly useful for scientists attempting to cure diseases and conditions like diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, spinal cord injury, lung disease and arthritis.

However, as with all new breakthroughs, there are many questions still to be answered. For example, presumably there would have to be tests to determine the suitability of patients not just for the liposuction itself, but also for their potential as a donor. Then there is the possibility that some patients may not feel comfortable with the idea at all. I’m certainly looking forward to finding out more about this discovery and the beneficial effects it could have around the world.