Lee et al. 2017

Full study link here

Elita Genetics Summary

As the veterinary use of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) becomes more widespread, there’s increasing interest in the variables that influence treatment outcomes. One important, yet often overlooked factor is donor age — especially when working with autologous cells.

This 2017 study by Lee et al. directly examined how donor age affects the biological characteristics of canine AD-MSCs, including proliferation and trilineage differentiation potential. The findings highlight a critical consideration for stem cell banking and therapeutic planning, especially in ageing patients.

Study Design at a Glance

• Sample: Adipose tissue was collected from two groups of dogs —

  Young (1–3 years) and Old (8–10 years), n=5 in each group.

• Methods: Cells were assessed for morphology, proliferation rates, and their ability to differentiate into adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic lineages.

• Outcomes: Focused on population doubling time, senescence marker expression, and differentiation efficiency.

Key Findings

• Proliferation Capacity: AD-MSCs from younger dogs exhibited significantly higher proliferation and shorter doubling times than those from older dogs.
• Senescence Markers: Older-donor cells expressed higher levels of p53 and p21, suggesting earlier onset of cellular ageing.
• Differentiation Potential: Trilineage differentiation was maintained in both groups, but cells from younger donors showed stronger staining and more robust lineage-specific gene expression.

Why This Matters Clinically

• Banking earlier may be better: These results reinforce the logic of harvesting and banking cells when dogs are young and healthy, rather than waiting until disease or age reduces cell quality.
• Autologous limitations in older patients: Older dogs may not yield MSCs with the same regenerative potential, which could impact the efficacy of autologous therapies.