Safwani, W. K. Z. W., Wong, C. W., Yong, K. W., Choi, J. R., Adenan, N. A. M., Omar, S. Z., ... & Pingguan-Murphy, B. (2016). The effects of hypoxia and serum-free conditions on the stemness properties of human adipose-derived stem cells. Cytotechnology, 68(5), 1859-1872.
DOI: 10.1007/s10616-015-9939-9.

In this study, human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) at passage 3 were subjected to treatment in 4 conditions: (1) 21 % O2 with fetal bovine serum (FBS), (2) 21 % O2 without FBS, (3) 2 % O2 with FBS and (4) 2 % O2 without FBS followed by subsequent analysis of their phenotype, viability and functionality. We observed that ASCs cultured in all conditions present no significant phenotypic changes. It was found that ASCs cultured in 2 % O2 without serum showed an increase in viability and growth to a certain extent when compared to those cultured in 21 % O2 without serum. However, ASCs cultured in 2 % O2 without serum displayed a relatively low adipogenic and osteogenic potential. On the other hand, interestingly, there was a positive enhancement in chondrogenic differentiation of ASCs cultured in 21 % O2 without serum. The findings suggest that different culture conditions may be suitable for different indications. In summary, ASCs cultured in serum-free condition can still survive, proliferate and undergo subsequent adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. 

The cells were cultured in DMEM/F12 supplemented with different components as specified in the Methods, under the heading; Isolation and culture of human ASCs.