Background
Stem cell therapy is a promising new approach to wound healing. Stromal vascular fraction is a heterogeneous collection of cells, including adipose-derived stem cells, which are traditionally isolated using a manual collagenase-based technique. To our knowledge, this is the first human study that histologically assesses the potential of intraoperative intradermal injection of stromal vascular fraction on skin regeneration.
Hypothesis
We hypothesized there is statistically significant difference in histological characteristics of the scar tissue of the tested side where we intradermally injected SVF in comparison to control side scar.
Methods
In this controlled study, 20 patients undergoing deep inferior epigastric perforator flap breast reconstruction and bilateral flank liposuction were included. Stromal vascular fraction was injected intradermally into one side of the abdominal suture line, while the other side served as a control. Outcome measures included analysis of stromal vascular fraction by flow cytometry, histological analysis of scar tissue, and scar photography. Histological analyses of test and control side were compared and analysed with program Image J. Additionally, we showed the correlation between the specific cell type in the stromal vascular fraction and the histological characteristic of scar tissue. The influence of patients' age and body mass index on the stromal vascular fraction cells were statistically analysed.
Results
Patients' average age and body mass index were 54 ± 7,2 years and 27 ± 4,1 kg/m$^2$, respectively. Cell yield for application and cell viability were 52,3 ± 27,27 x 10$^6$ and 74,2 ± 14,2 %, respectively. Mean vascular density, elastic fiber content, collagen maturity (scar index), number of rete ridges and epidermal thickness all showed higher values on the treated side. The statistically significant difference was present in vascular density and scar index. Age and body mass index were positively correlated with many cell populations in stromal vascular fraction, however in multivariant statistical analysis only body mass index had a significant influence on the number of cells for application. Furthermore, the injected number of adipose derived stem cells and pericytes positively correlated with the vascular density.
Conclusions
It is safe to speculate that intradermal stromal vascular fraction injection at the beginning of the healing process increases vascular density, collagen maturity, elastic fiber content, epidermal-dermal anchoring of the scarring skin, epidermal thickness, and is therefore responsible for improved skin regeneration. We believe the cell therapy with stromal vascular fraction is most effective when injected intradermally at the beginning of the wound healing process.
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