Arch Aesthetic Plast Surg.  2018 Oct;24(3):128-133. 10.14730/aaps.2018.24.3.128.

Local Subcutaneous Injection of Erythropoietin Might Improve Fat Graft Survival, Whereas Continuous Infusion Using an Osmotic Pump Device Was Harmful by Provoking an Overwhelming Foreign Body Reaction in a Nude Mouse Model

• Kim EK
• Lee Y
• Lee HJ
• Hong JP

• KMID: 2437074
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14730/aaps.2018.24.3.128

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Since the survival of grafted fat requires successful revascularization, we hypothesized that local delivery of erythropoietin (EPO), a hemangiogenic and antiapoptotic factor, might enhance the survival of fat grafts in a nude mouse model.
METHODS
Our experiment consisted of 2 parts. The first involved direct injection of EPO or saline at the grafting site before fat grafting and for 4 days afterwards. In the second part, EPO or saline was delivered continuously for 1 week via an osmotic pump device, and a group without an implantable pump represented the control group. After 16 weeks, the surviving fat grafts were weighed and subjected to histomorphometry.
RESULTS
In the first experiment, fat graft survival was higher in the EPO-injected group, but not statistically significant (69.2% vs. 59.2%; P=0.21). Histomorphometry showed significantly higher levels of microvessel formation and less cystic degeneration in the EPO-injected group. In the second experiment, the survival rate was significantly lower in both pump groups than in the control group (40.7% in the EPO pump group, 7.7% in the saline pump group, and 66.7% in the control group).
CONCLUSIONS
Local injection of EPO into the fat graft site appeared to improve graft survival, with increased angiogenesis, suppressed inflammation, and decreased degeneration. However, the insertion of an osmotic pump exerted detrimental effects on graft survival and the histomorphometric profiles of the fat graft compared with the control group due to the overwhelming foreign body reaction.

Keyword

Adipose tissue; Erythropoietin; Graft survival; Inflammation

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Animals
Erythropoietin*
Foreign Bodies*
Foreign-Body Reaction*
Graft Survival*
Inflammation
Injections, Subcutaneous*
Mice
Mice, Nude*
Microvessels
Survival Rate
Transplants*
Erythropoietin