By Amna Adnan
Since 1975, the prevalence of obesity has tripled, adversely affecting individuals’ health and imposing an economic burden. The development of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), neurodegenerative diseases, and numerous other harmful disorders have been linked to inflammation in adipose tissue caused by obesity. Previous studies have demonstrated that adipose stem cells (ASCs), which reside in adipose tissue, play anti-inflammatory and protective roles against several inflammatory diseases. For instance, ASCs could be used to mitigate the inflammatory milieu caused by obesity. However, my research indicates that inflammation induced by obesity reduces the anti-inflammatory functions of ASCs, a condition that may be challenging to reverse even after significant weight loss. From the findings of my doctoral research, I am keen to contribute to the development of ASC-based therapies to treat diseases related to metabolic syndrome, particularly obesity and T2D. My research emphasizes the importance of understanding cellular characteristics and functions for effective cell-based treatments. Attending events such as the 7th World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) could enhance understanding in regenerative medicine.
In year 2023, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported that 30% of women and 27% men are living with obesity in Finland. Obesity is becoming a common health challenge, leading to increased healthcare costs each year. Obesity is characterized by dysfunctional adipose tissue, which not only impairs the normal functions of the tissue but also affects its resident cells.
ASCs are utilized in various cell-based therapies. ASCs are readily accessible and display minimal immunogenicity, meaning they have a reduced capacity to trigger an immune response when employed in cell therapy. They have the ability to differentiate into multiple cell types, including bone, cartilage, adipocytes, and hepatocytes. My research topic focuses on the effects of the donor’s body mass index and T2D on the characteristics of ASCs such as, immune cell regulation, vessel formation, neuronal repair, and cell secretory characteristics.
The most exciting aspect in my research is the human based cell material obtained from the participants undergoing weight loss surgery. In my experimental work, I culture ASCs, immune cells, and endothelial cells to study their interactions in close contact. This study aims to shed light on the relatively understudied cellular events that occur in adipose tissue-residing cells, particularly ASCs, during obesity. For the clinical utilization of ASCs, it is crucial to understand how the characteristics of donors, particularly those associated with obesity, influence the functionality of ASCs. This understanding becomes even more significant considering that ASCs are frequently sourced from individuals who are overweight or living with obesity. By studying cellular interactions in unique coculture settings using human-derived cells, instead of animal models, we could uncover mechanisms related to human obesity and adipose tissue inflammation at the cellular level. This approach could provide more accurate insights into human obesity. At the Adult Stem Cell group, Tampere University, we are developing human adipose tissue on-a-chip for modelling obesity and to study the physiology and pathology of this energy regulating and glucose balancing organ. This project is also part of the Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research.
I had an excellent opportunity to attend the 7th World Congress of TERMIS at Seattle, WA, USA. TERMIS, an international scholarly society dedicated to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, was formed in 2005. The theme for this year’s World Congress was “Coming Together to Design Better Healthcare for All.” The TERMIS 2024 conference was designed to engage researchers, surgeons, and other healthcare and industry professionals who specialize in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This global event attracted over 2000 participants, providing a platform for them to discuss the most recent advancements in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The conference program encompassed a broad array of subjects. Here are just a handful of the numerous intriguing topics presented at the conference:
- Tissue Engineering: This is the integration of biological components, such as living cells and growth factors, with engineering principles and synthetic materials.
- Stem Cell Therapies: These are therapies that use human-derived stem cells as regenerative medicine to repair injured or dysfunctional tissues.
- Biomaterial: This is a substance that has been engineered to interact with biological systems for a medical purpose.
- Biofabrication: This is the process of producing complex biological products from living cells, medical materials, and other biological molecules to repair injured or damaged tissue.
- Cancer: This refers to a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade and spread to other parts of the body.
- Angiogenesis: This is the formation of blood vessels.
- Immunoengineering: These are techniques that utilize the immune system to treat diseases like cancer.
- Inflammation: This is a biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, damaged cells, or irritants, causing pain, redness, swelling, and loss of function.
- Organoids: These are mini organ-like structures grown in a laboratory using human cells.
During the conference, I was particularly interested in content related to ASCs/adipocytes, especially in the context of inflammation. I was also keen to learn more about immune cell regulation and tissue regeneration, as immune cells play a significant role in adipose tissue during obesity. I was personally inspired by one key note on cell senesence or biological aging of cell which opened my eyes to new exciting ideas to implement in my own research. Moreover, one of the most intriguing sessions was panel discussion on Inclusive Research Strategies in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine by Dr Simone Andrea Douglas-Green, Dr Ana Maria Porras, Dr Ariella Shikanov and Dr Jennifer Elisseeff.
I presented my poster Effects of Bariatric Surgery-Related Weight Loss on Characteristics, Metabolism, and Immunomodulation of Adipose Stromal Cells in a Follow-Up Study. It was exciting and motivating to present my work and exchange ideas with poster session participants and other presenters from various countries, including the USA, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Italy, Norway, and the United Kingdom. The audience was keen to learn about the effects of weight loss on ASCs, leading to engaging discussions. A particularly interesting question that arose was whether ASCs could resume their normal immunomodulatory functions after significant weight loss. The answer to this question remains uncertain. In my study, the time period between sample collections from thr same participant, i.e., before and after weight loss, was between 2.5 to 3 years. This duration should be ample for the cells to resume their normal function. However, if they have not restored their function within this period, it is possible that they might never do so.
The grant from Suomen lihavuustutkijat ry to participate in this insightful and scholarly conference was invaluable. Attending this conference offered me an opportunity to learn about the latest research trends and present my work to an international audience, which helped me grow professionally. This poster presentation provided great visibility, facilitated valuable connections, and potential future collaborations in my research area. Through this blog, I would like to highlight how attending conferences like the TERMIS World Congress benefits early career researchers. For instance, it provides immense knowledge in a highly interactive manner and opens the gateway to brilliant ideas. Participation in such conferences not only gives our work great visibility but also brings useful collaborations from different parts of the world. Overall, the conference was a fantastic opportunity to network and learn. I highly recommend attending the 8th TERMIS World Congress in Shanghai, China, in 2027.
