Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2021, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (29): 4735-4742.doi: 10.12307/2021.177

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Early vascularization of fat transplantation: regulation and mechanism

Liu Jiajie, Zhao Xian   

  1. Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650031, Yunnan Province, China
  • Received:2020-10-31 Revised:2020-11-03 Accepted:2020-12-07 Online:2021-10-18 Published:2021-07-22
  • Contact: Zhao Xian, MD, Doctoral supervisor, Associate professor, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650031, Yunnan Province, China
  • About author:Liu Jiajie, Master candidate, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650031, Yunnan Province, China
  • Supported by:
     fat transplantation; vascularization; autologous fat; vascular growth factor; stem cells; endothelial progenitor cells; tissue engineering; review

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Tissue transplantation is the most commonly used treatment in plastic surgery. After transplantation, it is essential for tissue survival to establish blood circulation within the time limit of tissue ischemia resistance. The survival rate and quality of the graft are related to the time of revascularization. 
OBJECTIVE: To review the regulation and mechanism of promoting early vascularization of fat grafts from different sites with regard to cytokines, adipocytes, exosomes, tissue engineering, and signaling pathway.
METHODS: PubMed, Google Scholar, EMbase, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP were searched for relevant literatures published from 1995 to 2020 using the keywords of “fat graft, fat grafting, vascularization, vascularize, cytokines, exosomes, VEGF, ADSCs, EPC, SVF, mechanisms, signal pathway” in English and Chinese, respectively. The articles irrelevant to the content, with low quality or high repeatability were excluded. Finally, 73 articles were selected for review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Various treatments can contribute to early vascularization of fat grafts, including addition of various cytokines or cells, stem cells, selection of fat cells in different parts, relevant signaling pathways, fat pretreatment, tissue engineering, exosomes, etc. Adipose stem cells can regulate angiogenesis and inhibit inflammation through the VEGF-PLCγ-ERK1/ERK2 pathway, and promote early vascularization through the recruitment and differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells. Adipose stem cells from different sites have some differences in vascularization and survival rate. The use of stromal vascular components is an efficient technology to improve the survival of fat grafts. The possible mechanism by which adipose stem cells promote fat graft survival and angiogenesis is that the paracrine products of adipose stem cells can promote vascularization, reduce inflammation, and thereby enhance the volume retention rate of fat grafts.


Key words: fat transplantation, vascularization, autologous fat, vascular growth factor, stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells, tissue engineering, review

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