Reversing Obesity's Impact: How Weight Loss Restores the Inflammatory Function of Fat-Derived Stem Cells Over Time

Recent research has provided new insights into how adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), originating from fat tissue, respond to obesity and subsequent weight loss. These stem cells play a crucial role in tissue repair, immune regulation, and regenerative therapies. Notably, obesity impairs their anti-inflammatory capabilities, which are essential for combating systemic inflammation. While weight loss through bariatric surgery leads to measurable reductions in systemic inflammation, the functional recovery of these stem cells is more complex.

A groundbreaking study conducted by Tampere University examined adipose tissue from the same donors before and after bariatric surgery. The findings revealed that, despite reductions in inflammation markers in blood plasma and tissue biopsies, the cellular mechanisms regulating inflammation in ADSCs do not fully revert to normal within two to three years post-weight loss. This indicates that even if systemic health improves, the regenerative and anti-inflammatory functions of fat-derived stem cells remain partially compromised.

The study suggests that while individuals experience health benefits after significant weight reduction, the underlying cellular functions of adipose stem cells do not fully restore. This has implications for the use of ADSCs in regenerative medicine, especially since donor health status influences their therapeutic potential. Researchers are now exploring tissue culture models derived from adipose tissue to better understand these differences, aiming to improve personalized treatment strategies.

Professor Susanna Miettinen's team is planning future experiments involving three-dimensional tissue chips that combine adipose-derived and vascular cells from donors with varying weight statuses. These studies, expected to yield results in 2026, will help decipher the functional disparities and potential for regenerating healthier stem cell populations in individuals with a history of obesity.

Overall, this research emphasizes the importance of considering cellular functionality in post-weight-loss therapies and highlights that obesity's effects on stem cells may persist long after weight is lost. Recovery at the tissue and cellular levels is a gradual process, underscoring the need for ongoing research into optimizing regenerative therapies for obese patients.