Abstract
Background
Despite the pivotal role of fat grafting in the realms of plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery, the erratic survival rates of transplanted adipose tissue, primarily due to early ischemic and hypoxic insults, pose a substantial challenge. The strategic infusion of healthy mitochondria has emerged as a critical intervention for the recuperation of tissues from ischemic, hypoxic, and a variety of damages across numerous organ systems.
Objectives
This investigation seeks to assess the impact of supplementing human adipose tissue grafts with healthy exogenous mitochondria on their volume and mass retention rates when transplanted into the subcutaneous layers of nude mice. This novel approach aims to refine and enhance the efficacy of fat grafting techniques.
Methods
Human adipose tissues were preconditioned with exogenous mitochondria (10µg/mL), a combination of exogenous mitochondria and the inhibitor Dyngo-4a, Dyngo-4a alone, and PBS, and subsequently transplanted into the subcutaneous tissue of 24 nude mice. Samples were harvested at 1 and 3 months post-transplantation for analysis of mass and volume retention. The structural morphology and integrity of the adipose tissues were evaluated using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining.
Results
The incorporation of mitochondrial preconditioning significantly enhanced the retention of mass and volume in fat grafts, demonstrating superior structural morphology and integrity in comparison to those observed in the control group.
Conclusions
The outcomes of this study underscore the significant potential of exogenous mitochondrial augmentation in fat transplantation to substantially increase fat graft survival and, consequently, optimize the success rates of fat grafting interventions.