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Publications

Journal Article Ahead of print

PubMed: 42443931 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-026-08640-x

Boosting the vascularization and regenerative capacity of nanofat by short-term ex vivo pretreatment with erythropoietin.

J Transl Med

Authors: Valeria Pruzzo, Francesca Bonomi, Ettore Limido, Andrea Weinzierl, Yves Harder, Matthias W Laschke

Affiliations

  • Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Saarland University, PharmaScienceHub (PSH), 66421, Homburg, Germany.
  • Department of Surgery, Ospedale Beata Vergine Mendrisio, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Mendrisio, 6850, Switzerland.
  • Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, 8006, Switzerland.
  • Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland.
  • Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland.
  • Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Saarland University, PharmaScienceHub (PSH), 66421, Homburg, Germany.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone that exerts pro-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study investigated whether this beneficial profile of action is suitable for improving the in vivo performance of nanofat, an emulsified fat derivative that is clinically used in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

RESULTS

Repeated intravital fluorescent microscopic analyses showed that EPO-pretreated nanofat significantly accelerates and enhances the vascularization of the implants, as evidenced by an earlier onset of blood perfusion and an increased functional microvessel density when compared to controls. This was associated with a reduced inflammatory response to the implants, as indicated by lower numbers of adherent leukocytes in venules of the host tissue. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses further revealed an improved implant integration with an increased collagen I deposition and a higher density of nanofat-derived CD31⁺/green fluorescent protein (GFP +) microvessels, along with a reduced macrophage and neutrophil infiltration.

METHODS

Nanofat was mechanically generated from subcutaneous adipose tissue of GFP + C57BL/6J mice and incubated for 1 h in Hank's Balanced Salt Solution with or without EPO (3 IU/mL). The pretreated nanofat was seeded onto dermal substitutes, which were implanted into dorsal skinfold chambers of GFP⁻ C57BL/6J mice and analyzed over 14 days.

CONCLUSION

These findings identify short-term pretreatment with EPO as an effective strategy to boost the vascularization and regenerative capacity of nanofat.

MeSH

Biomedical Research, Erythropoietin, Tissues, Microvessels