Adipose tissue mature stem cells in skin healing: a controlled randomized study

Abstract

ORIGINAL ARtIcLeABSTRACT Background: The differences between fetal and adult scars suggest the possibility of manipulating skin scarring outcomes. This study aimed to assess whether the use of adult stem cells from adipose tissue is beneficial to skin healing. Methods: This was a randomized controlled study for which 18 patients were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The adult stem cells used were autologous and were extracted from infraumbilical adipose tissue prior to abdominoplasty. These cells were implanted into the surgical wound dermis in the suprapubic region before skin synthesis. The results were assessed blindly based on the Draaijers scale by three physicians and by the patients themselves in a self-assessment. Photometric assessment by digital photography was also performed. Results: Among the 18 operated patients, considering the surgical result, 17 (94.4%) had excellent or good results and one (5.5%) had wound dehiscence, which was considered a bad result. Considering skin healing in the searched area, there was no statistically significant difference in the photometric evaluation; in both the self-assessment by the patients and the physicians' assessment, the results were significantly in favor of intervention with stem cells (P = 0.12 and P = 0.003, respectively). Consideration of all assessments (physicians, patients and photometric) found a statistically significant difference in favor of the implantation of adult stem cells from adipose tissue (P <0.001). Conclusions: Skin healing results after implantation of adult stem cells derived from adipose tissue were satisfactory.Keywords: Stem cells. Wound healing. Abdomen/surgery. RESUMO Introdução:Fatores que diferenciam a cicatrização fetal e a do adulto instigam a possibilidade de manipulação das soluções de continuidade da pele. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar se o uso de células-tronco adultas do tecido adiposo é benéfico à cicatrização da pele. Método: Estudo controlado, randomizado, para o qual foram selecionadas 18 pacientes, considerando-se critérios de inclusão e exclusão. As células-tronco adultas utilizadas eram autólogas, extraídas do tecido adiposo da região infraumbilical, precedendo a realização da abdominoplastia. Essas células, antes da síntese da pele, foram implantadas na derme da ferida operatória, na região suprapúbica. A avaliação dos resultados foi realizada com base na escala de Draaijers, por três avaliadores médicos cegados, e pelas próprias pacientes, por autoavaliação. Foi realizada, também, avaliação fotométrica por fotografia digital. Resultados: Dentre as 18 pacientes operadas, sob o ponto de vista cirúrgico, 17 (94,4%) apresentaram resultados excelentes ou bons e uma (5,5%) apresentou deiscência de sutura, considerado mau resultado. Quanto à cicatrização da pele na área pesquisada, à avaliação fotométrica, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante; à autoavaliação pelas pacientes, os resultados atingiram nível de significância a favor da intervenção com células-tronco (P = 0,12); e à...

Current perspectives on the use of stem cells in plastic surgery

“…Silva et al 2009 Fat grafts combined with mesenchymal stem cells give very satisfactory results with low risks of clinical complications in breast augmentation surgeries. Martins et al 2011 In studies on stem cells, it was possible to see that fetal healing is better than in adults. Andrade et al 2013 Autologous adipose tissue stem cell transplantation is one of the most reliable methods of cell therapy, as the risks of rejection and disease transmission are low.…”