ASC: chameleon cells in action?

Adipose tissue–derived stromal cells (ASC) play a key role in many physiopathological processes, ranging from tissue repair to immune regulation and chronic inflammatory responses, as observed in metabolic diseases, fibrosis, and certain cancers. Long considered a homogeneous population, these cells actually display marked heterogeneity, both phenotypically and functionally.  

This complexity represents a major limitation to their clinical use: the incomplete characterization of ASC subpopulations, their variable behavior in inflammatory contexts, and their capacity for tissue migration remain poorly understood. The main challenge is to decipher how these cells adapt to their environment and how their functions evolve in response to local signals, in order to optimize their therapeutic potential.