Immunomodulatory and Antioxidativepotentials of adipose-derived Mesenchymalstem cells isolated from breast versusabdominal tissue: a comparative study

Background: Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are considered ideal candidates for both research and cellular therapydue to ease of access, large yield, feasibility, and efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies. Unlike the subcutaneousabdominal fat depot, breast ASCs features are still not well recognized, limiting their possible therapeutic use. ASCswere found to exert immunomodulatory and antioxidative activities for maintaining homeostasis and functionality ofdiseased/damaged tissues. This study aims to investigate the immunomodulatory and antioxidative potentials of breastversus abdominal isolated ASCs to find out which anatomical site provides ASCs with better immunoregulatory andoxidative stress resistance capabilities.Methods: ASCs were isolated from abdominal and breast tissues. Gene expression analysis was conducted for a panelof immunomodulatory and antioxidative genes, as well as adipokines and proliferation genes. Flow cytometric analysisof a group of immunomodulatory surface proteins was also performed. Finally, the significantly expressed genes haveundergone protein-protein interaction and functional enrichment in silico analyses.Results: Our results revealed similar morphological and phenotypic characteristics for both breast and abdominalASCs. However, a significant elevation in the expression of two potent immunosuppressive genes, IL-10 and IDO aswell as the expression of the multifaceted immunomodulatory adipokine, visfatin, was detected in breast versusabdominal ASCs. Moreover, a significant overexpression of the antioxidative genes, GPX1, SIRT5, and STAT3 and theproliferation marker, Ki67, was also observed in breast ASCs relative to abdominal ones. In silico analysis showed thatboth of the differentially upregulated immunomodulatory and antioxidative mediators integratively involved inmultiple biological processes and pathways indicating their functional association.Conclusion: Breast ASCs possess superior immunomodulatory and antioxidative capabilities over abdominal ASCs. Ourfindings shed light on the possible therapeutic applications of breast ASCs in immune-related and oxidative stressassociateddiseases.