Review Article

Buccal Fat Pad as a Potential Source of Stem Cells for Bone Regeneration: A Literature Review

Table 1

In vitro studies.

AuthorsStudy designCell sourceResult

Farré-Guasch et al. (2010) [9]Comparison:Human(i) Similar phenotype and morphology (spindle shaped)
(i) BFPSCs(ii) Able to differentiate into chondrogenic, adipogenic, and osteogenic lineages
(ii) SC-AdSCs
Broccaioli et al. (2013) [12]Comparison:Human(i) Amelogenin: early osteoinductive factor for BFPSCs, but not SC-AdSCs
(i) BFPSCs(ii) Proliferation: both able to proliferate in presence of human serum and adhesion to scaffolds
(ii) SC-AdSCs(iii) Surface markers: both have a typical MSC immunophenotype
(iv) Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation: both show related markers (ALP activity, Coll deposition, and lipid vacuoles formation)
Niada et al. (2013) [13]Comparison:Swine(i) No difference in proliferation, viability, and clonogenicity
(i) BFPSCs(ii) Differentiation: both have the ability to differentiate towards the osteoblast-like and adipocyte-like cells and also similar in size and granularity
(ii) SC-AdSCs (cultured on titanium disks and silicon carbide-plasma)(iii) Chondrogenic and osteogenic induction: both cells able to increase GAGs production over time and when osteoinduced on synthetic biomaterials, significantly increased amount of calcified ECM
(iv) Seeded on titanium: increased amount of calcified ECM of about 46% and 37% for SC-AdSCs and BFPSCs, respectively
(v) Seeded on silicon carbide: increased ECM deposition of 90% and 200% for SC-AdSCs and BFPSCs, respectively
Kishimoto et al. (2014) [14]Comparison:Human(i) Surface markers: similar cell surface antigens of BFPSCs and BFP-DFAT cells
(i) BFPSCs(ii) Differentiation: osteoblastic differentiation ability of BFP-DFAT cells is higher than that of BFPSCs (OCN, Ca deposition, and alizarin red)
(ii) BFP-DFAT cells
Kou et al. (2014) [15]Evaluation of BFP-DFAT cellsHuman(i) Differentiation: strong adipogenic but much weaker osteogenic capacity
(ii) Surface markers: no expression of endothelial markers under angiogenic induction (NO VWF)
(iii) Characteristics of BFP: similar to cells from abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue
(iv) Proliferation: no obvious decrease of proliferation or spontaneous differentiation up to the 25th passage
Tsurumachi et al. (2015) [16]Evaluation of BFP-DFAT cells: Cells were dissociated by collagenase and centrifuged:Human(i) S cells: higher capacity to dedifferentiate into DFAT cells and more osteogenic differentiation ability
(i) <40 μm (S)(ii) S- and L-DFAT cells had distinct characteristics
(ii) 40–100 μm (L)(iii) High proportion of S-adipocytes in BFP
(iv) S-adipocytes: more advantageous for inducing dedifferentiation into DFAT cells
Ardeshirylajimi et al. (2015) [17]Comparison:Human(i) Proliferation: higher proliferation level in cells on PLLA-Bio but with no significant difference between stem cells
(i) BFPSCs(ii) BMSCs on PLLA-Bio: greatest ALP activity and mineralization (next close results: BFPSCs)
(ii) BMSCs(iii) Lowest ALP activity: AdSCs
(iii) AdSCs(iv) BFP: same osteogenic capacity as three other stem cells (S-spindle-shaped cells)
(iv) USSCs(v) Enzyme activities of BMSCs and BFPSCs: better on PLLA-Bio and PLLA
(vi) Highest Ca deposition: PLLA-Bio
(vii) Greater intracellular concentration: BMSCs
(viii) Gene expression evaluation: highest expression of three bone-related genes: bioceramic-coated nanofibrous scaffolds

SC-AdSC: subcutaneous adipose stem cell; BFPSCs: buccal fat pad stem cells; MSCs: mesenchymal stem cells; ALP: alkaline phosphate; Coll.: collagen; GAG: glycosaminoglycan; ECM: extracellular matrix; DFAT: dedifferentiated fat; OCN: osteocalcin; Ca: calcium; VWF: von Willebrand factor; S: small; L: large; PLLA: poly L-lactic acid; BMSCs: bone marrow stem cells; USSCs: unrestricted somatic stem cells.