Experimental Research:Improvement Of Fat Graft Survival With Autologous Bone Marrow Aspirate And Bone Marrow Concentrate

Objective:Previous studies have showed the evidences of stem cells, such as adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell and endothelial progenitor cell can improve fat graft survival. However, a one-step method of cell-assisted lipotransfer which is safer, more effective and more efficient is still in need. This study was determined to evaluate the feasibility of improving fat graft survival combined with bone marrow aspirate and bone marrow concentrate, which can make liposuction and cell-assisted fat transplantation finished in the same procedure.Methods:The bone marrow aspirate (BMA) was collected from the iliac crest of the rabbits. The bone marrow concentrate (BMC) was harvested using density gradient centrifugation and the cells were labeled with PKH26 red fluorescent cell linker.24 rabbits were divided into three groups in this experiment:group A,1 ml of bone marrow aspirate (BMA) combined with 1.5 ml of adipose granule; group B,1 ml of bone marrow concentrate (BMC) combined with 1.5 ml of adipose granule, group C,1 ml of PBS buffer conbined with 1.5 ml of adipose granule as a blank control. The rabbits were subjected to fluorescence imaging in vivo at four time points, the days 1, weeks 2,4, and 12 after transplantation. At 4 weeks and 12 weeks after fat grafting, grafts were harvested and analyzed.Results:Fluorescence signals of bone marrow cells were observed in the injection region of the rabbits in group B at 1 day,2 weeks,4 weeks and 12 weeks after fat trans-plantation. The fat grafts transplanted with BMA and BMC obtained better weight and volume retention, living quality, adipocytes viability and angiogenesis at both 4 weeks and 12 weeks after transplantation. The results of living tissue imaging also showed the evidence that the bone marrow cells could contribute to fat graft survival by differentiat-ing into adipocytes and directly participating in angiogenesis.Conclusions:The findings of this study indicated that both bone marrow aspirate and bone marrow concentrate can enhance the survival and angiogenesis of grafting fat tissue.