One of the ways to address this issue is to generate an assortment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from non-related individuals that can be turned into many solid organ tissues and be compatible with a large percent of human population. These cells will be obtained from adipose tissue (lipoaspirates). We aim to derive skin cells and neurons from adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSC respectively). We then will confirm that the differentiation/specialization process of these stem cells is not affected by the aforementioned manipulation. Next we will test the immunogenicity of differentiated stem cells using in vitro Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte assays. In parallel we will master generation of decellularized liver and skin scaffolds as they are proven to be the best 3D structured for tissue regeneration. Lastly we will test survival of MSC derived neurons, hepatocytes, cardiomyocytes and skin cells in the context of re-cellularized scaffolds. Therefore, we will collect and derive MSC of different haplotypes characteristic of local gene variations in an effort to generate repository of potential donor stem cells. Such collection of cells will serve many purposes namely preservation of biodiversity, toxicology and drug development, and establishment of collection of cells that can be differentiated into cells of multiple solid organs.

The goal of this grant is twofold: to collect haplotypically different mesenchymal stem cells and to prove that these cells are capable of differentiating and re-populating decellularized scaffolds. The larger benefit of this project is expected to be the repository of stem cells and the methodology applicable to stem cell-derived lineages which will yield cells suitable for clinical use.