Dedifferentiated Fat Cells Combined with Acellular Dermal Matrix to Promote the Survival of Grafted Fat: Basic Research.

Abstract

Dedifferentiated fat cells (DFATs) are derived from mature adipocytes that undergo dedifferentiation and regain proliferative and differentiation potential. Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) is widely used in plastic and reconstructive medicine. The effects of ADM combined with DFATs in fat transplantation have not been studied. The microstructure of ADM was tested in vitro. Adipogenic gene and angiogenic factors secreted by adipose-derived stem cells or DFATs seeded on ADM were measured. In vivo experiments involved preculturing DFATs on ADM and then mixing them with adipose tissue for transplantation into nude mice (1:2). Samples were collected at 4, 8, and 12 weeks for histologic analysis, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunostaining. ADM demonstrated good biocompatibility, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction showed that in vitro preculture enhanced the expression of adipogenic-related genes (PPARγ and CEBPα) in DFATs and increased the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (P < 0.05). In the animal experiments, the fat grafts mixed with ADM exhibited better fat integrity and lower fibrosis levels, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor α levels were decreased. In the DFATs + ADM group, the numbers of CD31-positive cells and perilipin-positive cells within the ADM were the largest (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the expression of CD11b or inducible nitric oxide synthase/CD206 compared with the adipose-derived stem cells + ADM group. ADM, as a commercialized biomaterial, enhances the paracrine function of seeded cells. When cultured on ADM in assisted fat transplantation, DFATs can improve angiogenesis and fat survival. Clinical application of the cell-scaffold-fat transplantation model in the future is promising. The combined use of DFATs and ADM has been proven to promote angiogenesis and adipogenesis, which may serve as a promising strategy for soft-tissue reconstruction.