Remote Ischemic Preconditioning Recipient Tissues Improves the Viability of Murine Fat Transfer

Local ischemia before the development of recipient circulation may contribute to the highly variable long-term results of fat grafting. Remote ischemic preconditioning before adipose procurement augments the retention of fat grafts and limits subsequent liposclerosis. However, there is no literature examining what role remote ischemic preconditioning has on the fat graft recipient site.

Subcutaneous adipose tissue from transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein/luciferase was injected into skin folds of wild-type mice. Donors and recipients experienced intermittent temporary hindlimb tourniquet application before harvest and transfer, respectively. The viability of the transferred tissue was examined over 28 days by luciferin bioluminescence and subsequent histologic analysis.

There was a difference in bioluminescence at days 0, 14, and 28. The remote ischemic preconditioning donor or recipient mouse-alone groups demonstrated an approximately 2- to 3-fold increase in bioluminescence. Donor and recipient remote ischemic preconditioning had a 9-fold increase in bioluminescence. Histologic analysis at 28 days confirmed the presence of donor adipocytes, and they were gradually replaced by recipient inflammation and scar tissue. However, the amount of interstitial fibrosis was substantially less in the remote ischemic preconditioning groups. These findings were more pronounced when remote ischemic preconditioning was used for both donor and recipient mice.

Remote ischemic preconditioning has the ability to increase the viability of donor adipocytes and limit interstitial fibrosis. More specifically, remote ischemic preconditioning treatment of both donated adipose tissue and recipient wound beds demonstrates the greatest overall adipose cellular viability and native architecture.