Synergistic Effect of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells and Fat Graft on Wrinkles in Aged Mice

Abstract

Background: The authors investigated the synergistic effects of adipose-derived stem cells and fat graft on skin wrinkles in a nude mouse model of chronologic aging. Methods: After 50 weeks of chronologic aging, 44 female BALB/c nude mice were classified into four groups: (1) negative control, (2) mice injected subcutaneously with fat on the back skin (0.5 cm3), (3) mice injected with adipose-derived stem cells (1 × 105 cells in 0.5 cm3 Hanks balanced salt solution), and (4) mice injected with both fat (0.5 cm3) and adipose-derived stem cells (1 × 105 cells in 0.5 cm3 Hanks balanced salt solution). The degree of wrinkling was evaluated using replica analysis, and skin biopsies were performed after 4 weeks. The dermal thickness and density of collagen were determined. Type I procollagen and matrix metalloproteinase levels were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Tropoelastin, fibrillin-1, and CD31 levels were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Results: Based on the total wrinkle area, there was significant wrinkle reduction in the fat-treated and adipose-derived stem cell with fat–treated groups. Type I procollagen mRNA and collagen levels were significantly higher in the adipose-derived stem cell with fat–treated group than in the adipose-derived stem cell–treated and the fat-treated groups. In addition, the adipose-derived stem cells with fat graft group exhibited significantly higher CD31 expression level than the adipose-derived stem cell–treated and the fat-treated groups. Conclusion: Both adipose-derived stem cells and fat graft have a wrinkle-reducing effect and synergistically affect collagen synthesis and neovascularization.

Introduction of ligated vessels promote the retention and regeneration of free fat: constructing a fat flap in tissue engineering chamber

“…Early revascularization is thought to be crucial for the retention rate and most of the tissue volume was kept by the regenerated adipose tissue instead of surviving according to the theory of Yoshimura [3]. Besides this, CAL is based on the mechanism that adipose-derived stromal/stem cells could promote angiogenesis via angiogenic growth factor paracrine instead of differentiating into cell components [22][23][24][25][26][27]. Although the differential potential of ASCs was still thought to be promising, there was no doubt that revascularization is essential in determining the result of fat graft and there were plenty of studies proved that angiogenic growth factor could also promote the retention of grafted fat [28,29].…”

Exosomes From Adipose-Derived Stem Cells: The Emerging Roles and Applications in Tissue Regeneration of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery

“…Among skin cells, human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and keratinocytes (HaCaTs) are regarded as barriers to prevent skin from time aging and ultraviolet B (UVB) photoaging. Various improvement strategies, such as antioxidants, retinoids, peptides, growth factors, and autologous patient fat or collagen graft, have been used to fight against skin aging (Kim et al, 2019). Because of the poor penetration through the stratum and short-term maintenance for several months, these above strategies are now not ideal.…”

“…Fat grafting has been gaining large attention in tissue augmentation over the past decades for hemifacial atrophy, lipodystrophy, and breast reconstruction (Tan and Loh, 2017). Both ASCs and fat graft can exert a wrinkle-reducing effect and synergistically affect collagen synthesis and neovascularization (Kim et al, 2019). However, the survival rate of fat grafts remains unsatisfied due to the devascularization and ischemic injury of adipose tissues made by liposuction, injection, and long-term fat absorption.…”

Application of adipose-derived stem cells in photoaging: basic science and literature review

“…Moreover, the wrinkles in the areas injected with the stromal vascular fraction (SVF)/ADSC-concentrated nanofats were significantly attenuated and photoaged condition of hairless mice skin was greatly improved [ 35 ]. In addition, ADSCs and fat graft have a wrinkle-reducing effect in aged mice by synergistically affecting collagen synthesis and neovascularization [ 39 ]. Combination of ADSCs with other material or graft offers the skin a consistent and stable volume fill, which tends to augment skin thickness and reduce wrinkles more significantly.…”