Ki Yong Hong1,2, Sangjun Yim1,2, Hyun Jung Kim1,2, Ung Sik Jin1,2, SooA Lim1,2, SuRak Eo1,2, Hak Chang1,2, Kyung Won Minn1,2. 1. Goyang and Seoul, Republic of Korea. 2. From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dongguk University Medical Center; and the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cell-assisted lipotransfer is a process in which fat grafting is supplemented with autologous adipose-derived stromal cells. Since the efficacy of the technique was demonstrated, studies have focused on the mechanism by which cell-assisted lipotransfer enhances the rate of graft survival. However, the microenvironmental changes in donor and recipient tissue associated with cell-assisted lipotransfer remain unclear. METHODS: The authors introduced an animal model of cell-assisted lipotransfer using two different transgenic reporter mice. Donor fat from green fluorescent protein-expressing C57BL/6J mice and donor adipose-derived stromal cells from DsRed-expressing C57BL/6J mice were co-transplanted into recipient C57BL/6J mice. During adipose remodeling after cell-assisted lipotransfer, the fate of each donor adipocyte and donor adipose-derived stromal cell was traced using immunofluorescent staining with the whole-mount method. RESULTS: Adipose-derived stromal cell supplementation altered inflammation and promoted angiogenesis and subsequent revascularization in recipient tissue. Tracing at postoperative week 4 revealed that surviving donor adipose-derived stromal cells participated in angiogenesis by differentiating into endothelial cells. Moreover, newly differentiated fat from donor adipose-derived stromal cells and recipient tissue integrated with surviving donor fat, leading to improved retention of the graft. Adipose-derived stromal cell supplementation resulted in a quantitative difference in angiogenesis and adipogenesis during adipose remodeling according to the concentration of adipose-derived stromal cells. CONCLUSIONS: The authors characterized the dynamic changes occurring in donor adipose-derived stromal cells and fat and recipient tissue by tracing these cellular components following cell-assisted lipotransfer. The authors' findings highlight the therapeutic value of cell-assisted lipotransfer in tissue transplantation.
BACKGROUND: Cell-assisted lipotransfer is a process in which fat grafting is supplemented with autologous adipose-derived stromal cells. Since the efficacy of the technique was demonstrated, studies have focused on the mechanism by which cell-assisted lipotransfer enhances the rate of graft survival. However, the microenvironmental changes in donor and recipient tissue associated with cell-assisted lipotransfer remain unclear. METHODS: The authors introduced an animal model of cell-assisted lipotransfer using two different transgenic reporter mice. Donor fat from green fluorescent protein-expressing C57BL/6J mice and donor adipose-derived stromal cells from DsRed-expressing C57BL/6J mice were co-transplanted into recipient C57BL/6J mice. During adipose remodeling after cell-assisted lipotransfer, the fate of each donor adipocyte and donor adipose-derived stromal cell was traced using immunofluorescent staining with the whole-mount method. RESULTS: Adipose-derived stromal cell supplementation altered inflammation and promoted angiogenesis and subsequent revascularization in recipient tissue. Tracing at postoperative week 4 revealed that surviving donor adipose-derived stromal cells participated in angiogenesis by differentiating into endothelial cells. Moreover, newly differentiated fat from donor adipose-derived stromal cells and recipient tissue integrated with surviving donor fat, leading to improved retention of the graft. Adipose-derived stromal cell supplementation resulted in a quantitative difference in angiogenesis and adipogenesis during adipose remodeling according to the concentration of adipose-derived stromal cells. CONCLUSIONS: The authors characterized the dynamic changes occurring in donor adipose-derived stromal cells and fat and recipient tissue by tracing these cellular components following cell-assisted lipotransfer. The authors' findings highlight the therapeutic value of cell-assisted lipotransfer in tissue transplantation.