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Hydrogen-Generating Silicon-Based Agent Improves Fat Graft Survival in Rats
Naoya Otani1, Koichi Tomita1,2, Yuki Kobayashi3
1From the Department of Plastic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine.
Background:
Regulating excessive inflammation and oxidative stress in fat grafting may improve retention rates. Hydrogen effectively combats oxidative stress and inflammation and reportedly inhibits ischemia-reperfusion injury in various organs. However, with conventional methods of hydrogen administration, incorporating hydrogen continuously into the body over a long period of time is difficult. The authors hypothesized that a silicon (Si)-based agent they recently developed would aid in fat grafting, as it can generate large amounts of hydrogen continuously in the body.
Methods:
Fat grafting was performed on the backs of rats fed either a normal or 1.0 wt% Si-based agent-containing diet. To investigate synergistic effects with adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs), which improve retention rates of fat grafting, fat grafting with ASCs (1.0 × 10 5 /400 mg fat) was also performed in each rat. Postoperative retention rates of grafted fat over time, inflammatory indices, apoptosis, oxidative stress markers, histologic findings, and expression levels of inflammation-related cytokines and growth factors were compared among the 4 groups.
Results:
Intake of Si-based agent and addition of ASCs significantly reduced inflammatory indices, oxidative stress, and apoptosis of grafted fat, and improved long-term retention rates, histologic measures, and grafted fat quality. Under the experimental conditions, intake of the Si-based agent and addition of ASCs yielded comparable improvements in fat graft retention. Combining the 2 enhanced these effects.
Conclusions:
Oral administration of a hydrogen-generating Si-based agent may improve grafted fat retention by regulating the inflammatory response and oxidative stress in grafted fat.
Clinical Relevance Statement:
This study demonstrates improved grafted fat retention rates using a Si-based agent. This Si-based agent has the potential to expand the range of therapeutic indications of hydrogen-based therapy to conditions for which hydrogen has yet to be found effective, such as fat grafting.
