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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Measuring the Rate of Lipolysis in Ex Vivo Murine Adipose Tissue and Primary Preadipocytes Differentiated In Vitro
Published on: March 17, 2023
Compounds used for 'injection lipolysis' destroy adipocytes and other cells found in adipose tissue
Jürgen Janke1, Stefan Engeli, Kerstin Gorzelniak
1Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin - Campus Buch and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Background:
A widely applied technique to reduce subcutaneous fat pad size involves subcutaneous injection of a phosphatidylcholine preparation ('injection lipolysis'). As the mode of action is mostly unknown, we planned to study cellular effects of the particular drug used in Germany (Lipostabil(R)).
Methods:
Human preadipocytes, adipocytes, vascular and skeletal muscle cells as well as renal epithelial cells were incubated in the compound, morphological changes were described, and cell vitality was measured.
Results:
A strong cytolytic effect of the compound was signified by lipid release and acridine orange staining of dying adipocyte nuclei. When the undiluted compound was used, more than 90% of cell death occurred after 90 s in preadipocytes, after 6 min in vascular smooth muscle cells, skeletal myotubes and renal epithelial cells, and after 15 min in adipocytes. Dilution slowed down cytolysis, but still >50% of the cells disappeared during 30 min incubation. Neither osmotic effects nor differences in medium acidity were responsible for cell death.
Conclusion:
Injection lipolysis with phosphatidylcholine as the major injected compound reduces subcutaneous fat pad size through cell and tissue destruction. Beside the lack of a clear risk-benefit analysis, applying this technique represents off-label drug use and application of a drug by a contraindicated route.
Insights
Injection lipolysis using phosphatidylcholine causes cell and tissue destruction to reduce fat pads. This method involves off-label drug use and poses risks due to unknown benefits and contraindications.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Dermatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Subcutaneous injection of phosphatidylcholine preparations, known as injection lipolysis, is used to reduce subcutaneous fat.
- The precise mechanism of action for injection lipolysis remains largely unknown.
- This study investigates the cellular effects of Lipostabil(R), a phosphatidylcholine preparation commonly used in Germany.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the cellular mechanisms underlying injection lipolysis.
- To determine the cytolytic effects of phosphatidylcholine on various human cell types.
- To assess the safety and appropriateness of phosphatidylcholine injections for fat reduction.
Main Methods:
- Incubation of human preadipocytes, adipocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, skeletal muscle cells, and renal epithelial cells with phosphatidylcholine.
- Morphological assessment of cellular changes.
- Measurement of cell vitality and quantification of cell death.
Main Results:
- Phosphatidylcholine demonstrated a strong cytolytic effect, evidenced by lipid release and nuclear staining of dying cells.
- Rapid cell death (over 90%) occurred within minutes in various cell types, including preadipocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, skeletal myotubes, and renal epithelial cells.
- Even diluted phosphatidylcholine caused significant cell death (>50%) within 30 minutes, ruling out osmotic or pH-related effects.
Conclusions:
- Injection lipolysis with phosphatidylcholine induces fat reduction through direct cell and tissue destruction.
- The application of phosphatidylcholine for injection lipolysis constitutes off-label drug use.
- The study highlights concerns regarding the risk-benefit profile and contraindicated administration route of this cosmetic procedure.
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