Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression of Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells and Adipocytes Initiated from Fat Aspirations

Fat grafting is frequently employed in aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery with a low complication rate. However, fat necrosis may occur in dependence of the mode of fat aspiration, processing of the tissue and graft size. Graft survival is critically dependent on the contained adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs), adipocyte precursors and their potential for vascular supply. This work investigated the potential role of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) and various cytokines by ADSCs and differentiated adipocytes as key factors of fat grafting.