Infrapatellar Fat Pad-Derived Stem Cell Applications in Cartilage Regeneration

The infrapatellar fat pad (IFP), an extrasynovial adipose depot within the knee, has emerged as a prolific and accessible source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with pronounced chondrogenic and immunomodulatory capacities. Unlike subcutaneous or bone marrow‐derived MSCs, IFP‐MSCs reside in a perivascular niche that endows them with robust proliferation, higher expression of cartilage‐specific markers and resilience to donor age. Preconditioning strategies—ranging from co‐culture with chondrocytes to three‐dimensional spheroid formation and pharmacological priming—further augment their capacity to synthesise hyaline‐like matrix, secrete anti‐inflammatory mediators and modulate local immune responses. These advances underpin a spectrum of regenerative approaches, including cell‐based implants, exosome‐mediated therapies and biofabricated scaffolds, all directed towards durable restoration of articular cartilage integrity in osteoarthritic and traumatic defects.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated that priming infrapatellar fat pad‐derived MSCs with inflammatory (TNFα/IFNγ) and pro‐fibrotic (CTGF) stimuli induces a profound upregulation of CD10 and key immunoregulatory transcripts. Primed cells secrete enhanced levels of IL-10, growth factors and cytokines that synergistically degrade nociceptive Substance P via CD10‐mediated pathways. In vitro, these cells more potently inhibit activated peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation than their naïve counterparts. In vivo engraftment in a rat model of acute synovitis and IFP fibrosis confirms local Substance P depletion, resolution of inflammation and arrest of cartilage degeneration, positioning primed IFP-MSCs as a tailored alternative to bone marrow‐derived therapies.

Infrapatellar Fat Pad-Derived Stem Cell Applications in Cartilage Regeneration publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in infrapatellar fat pad-derived stem cell applications in cartilage regeneration across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Infrapatellar Fat Pad: adipose tissue located beneath the kneecap that harbours a rich reservoir of MSCs.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs): multipotent stromal cells capable of differentiating into cartilage, bone and fat, and secreting immunoregulatory factors.
Chondrogenesis: the process by which stem cells synthesise cartilage matrix components, notably type II collagen and aggrecan.
Priming: exposure of cells to specific cytokines or growth factors to enhance their therapeutic potency.
Spheroids: three‐dimensional aggregates of cells that strengthen cell–cell interactions and amplify paracrine signalling.
Exosomes: nano-scale extracellular vesicles released by cells that carry proteins and RNAs to mediate tissue repair.

References

1. The Infrapatellar Fat Pad as a Source of Perivascular Stem Cells with Increased Chondrogenic Potential for Regenerative Medicine. Stem Cells Translational Medicine (2016).
2. Chondrogenic Potency Analyses of Donor‐Matched Chondrocytes and Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Bone Marrow, Infrapatellar Fat Pad, and Subcutaneous Fat. Stem Cells International (2016).
3. Infrapatellar fat pad adipose-derived stem cells co-cultured with articular chondrocytes from osteoarthritis patients exhibit increased chondrogenic gene expression. Cell Communication and Signaling (2022).
4. Infrapatellar fat pad-derived mesenchymal stem cell-based spheroids enhance their therapeutic efficacy to reverse synovitis and fat pad fibrosis. Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2021).
5. Infrapatellar fat pad-derived MSC response to inflammation and fibrosis induces an immunomodulatory phenotype involving CD10-mediated Substance P degradation. Scientific Reports (2019).
6. Exosomes from Kartogenin‐Pretreated Infrapatellar Fat Pad Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Chondrocyte Anabolism and Articular Cartilage Regeneration. Stem Cells International (2021).