Protective effect of human adipose-derived stem cells transplanted to fat grafts against high-power laser therapy mediated fat tissue damage

Introduction

High Power Laser therapy (HPLT) can damage tissues due to its high skin absorption and side effects. The objective of this study was to determine the protective effect of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) against HPLT-mediated fat tissue damage after fat grafts in an in vivo study.

Methods

To determine the viability of fat grafts with transplanted hADSCs, high power laser (HPL) irradiation was performed using a 830?nm gallium–aluminum–arsenide (Ga–Al–As) laser. In the in vivo study, fat grafts with hADSCs/Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) were transplanted and HPL irradiation of each nude mouse was performed per protocol for a period of 13 weeks. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) levels of hADSCs were quantified by immunofluorescent staining using anti-VEGF antibody and anti-CD31 antibody, respectively, along with human mitochondrial (hMT) antibody.

Results

Compared to the HPLT?+?DMEM group, HPLT?+?hADSCs group showed increase in the number of viable cells of hADSCs in fat grafts, fat graft survival rate (weights and volumes), and expression levels of VEGF and CD31 in treated nude mice. Results of the in vivo study using nude mice and immune cytokine array suggest that hADSCs have potential protective effect against HPLT-mediated fat tissue damage.

Discussion

hADSCs could be applied in clinical fields by inhibiting HPLT-mediated side effects.