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Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine

Potential of Micro-fragmented Adipose Tissue-Derived Cells in Promoting Angiogenesis and Proliferation for Rotator Cuff Tear Healing: An In Vitro Approach

Friday, October 24, 2025
8:00 AM - 9:15 AM MT
Location: Kiosk 7

    Co-Author(s)

  • MS

    Marisa Sargeant, BSN

    Research Specialist
    Emory University
    Atlanta, Georgia

    • Primary Author(s)

  • Prathap Jayaram, MD

    Associate Professor, Director of Regenerative and Translational Research
    Emory University School of Medicine
    Atlanta, Georgia

    • Co-Author(s)

  • SA

    Shahenvaz Alam, PhD

    Postdoctoral Fellow
    Emory University School of Medicine
    Atlanta, Georgia

    • Poster Presenter(s)

  • Ramnik S. Gill, Other

    Medical Student
    University of Maryland School of Medicine
    Leonardtown, Maryland

Disclosure(s):
Prathap Jayaram, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Ramnik S. Gill, Other: No financial relationships to disclose
Background and/or Objectives: To elucidate and assess the contributions of various cell populations derived from micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT), as well as to investigate the mechanisms underlying tendon healing in the context of partial thickness rotator cuff tears .

Design: In vitro experimental study

Setting : Laboratory

Participants : 3 unique cell populations

Interventions: co-culture MFAT derived cells under different conditions to determine angiogenisis and rotator cuff healing

Main Outcome Measures: angiongesis expression, cell proliferation

Results: The cell populations derived from MFAT (Micro-fragmented Adipose Tissue) were characterized using flow cytometry. Tendon stem progenitor cells (TSPCs) were identified as CD146+ and CD200+, while endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were identified as CD105+/CD34+, with each exhibiting over 50% expression. The synergistic co-culture of TSPCs resulted in enhanced production of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and increased angiogenesis within the EPC populations. Specifically, the CD146+ cells demonstrated a higher VEGF concentration of 41 pg/mL and exhibited 25 branching points, as compared to the CD200+ cells, which had a VEGF level of 19 pg/mL and only 10 branching points. Furthermore, proliferation assays indicated that the presence of TSPCs significantly improved the viability of EPCs and tendon cells, surpassing the viability observed in cultures of these cells alone.

Conclusions: MFAT exhibits heterogeneous composition, characterized by diverse regenerative properties. Although the application of MFAT in the healing of rotator cuff tears shows promise, it lacks robust scientific validation. Among different cell types, the presence of TSPCs, particularly CD146, plays a significant role in influencing EPCs and facilitating the angiogenesis process, thereby promoting healing in partial thickness rotator cuff tears.