Abstract:
The potential for human adipose-derived stromal cells (hASCs) to be used as a therapeutic product is being assessed in multiple
clinical trials. However, much is still to be learned about these cells before they can be used with confidence in the clinical
setting. An inherent characteristic of hASCs that is not well understood is their heterogeneity. The aim of this exploratory study
was to characterize the heterogeneity of freshly isolated hASCs after two population doublings (P2) using single-cell
transcriptome analysis. A minimum of two subpopulations were identified at P2. A major subpopulation was identified as
contractile cells which, based on gene expression patterns, are likely to be pericytes and/or vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs)
