Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To review the research progress of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in skin scar prevention and treatment. METHODS: The related literature was extensively reviewed and analyzed. The recent in vitroand in vivo experiments and clinical studies on the role of ADSCs in skin scar prevention and treatment, and the possible mechanisms and biomaterials to optimize the effect of ADSCs were summarized. RESULTS: As demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo experiments and clinical studies, ADSCs participate in the whole process of skin wound healing and may prevent and treat skin scars by reducing inflammation, promoting angiogenesis, or inhibiting (muscle) fibroblasts activity to reduce collagen deposition through the p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ, transforming growth factor β (1)/Smads pathways. Moreover, bioengineered materials such as hydrogel from acellular porcine adipose tissue, porcine small-intestine submucosa, and poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) scaffold may further enhance the efficacy of ADSCs in preventing and treating skin scars. CONCLUSION: Remarkable progress has been made in the application of ADSCs in skin scar prevention and treatment. While, further studies are still needed to explore the application methods of ADSCs in the clinic.