AUTHOR=Wang Lihong , Jiang Xiaorui , Zhao Fen , Duan Ping , Li Zhengguang , Luo Yiqiao 

TITLE=A review of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells‘ impacts and challenges: metabolic regulation, tumor modulation, immunomodulation, regenerative medicine and genetic engineering therapies

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1606847

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2025.1606847

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs), multipotent stromal cells abundant in adipose tissue, exhibit remarkable plasticity in modulating systemic metabolism, inflammatory responses, and immune homeostasis. Their bidirectional interactions with the tumor microenvironment (TME) position them as both accomplices and antagonists in cancer progression, offering unique therapeutic opportunities. ADSCs also hold significant potential for clinical application in the fields of regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and gene engineering. This review synthesizes the impacts and challenges of ADSCs involving  metabolic regulation, tumor modulation, immunomodulation, regenerative medicine and genetic engineering therapies—while elucidating underlying molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways, clinical studies, applications and challenges.