Human Fat Grafting Alleviates Radiation Skin Damage in a Murine Model

Authors:
  • CSCarrie S. Stern
    Carrie S. Stern
  • RARobert J. Allen
    Robert J. Allen
  • VTVishal D. Thanik
    Vishal D. Thanik
  • CCChristopher C. Chang
    Christopher C. Chang
  • PNPhuong D. Nguyen
    Phuong D. Nguyen
  • OCOrlando Canizares
    Orlando Canizares
  • CSCaroline Szpalski
    Caroline Szpalski
  • SWStephen M. Warren
    Stephen M. Warren
  • SCSydney R. Coleman
    Sydney R. Coleman
  • AHAlexes Hazen
    Alexes Hazen
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Abstract
Autogenous fat grafting has been observed to alleviate the sequelae of chronic radiodermatitis. To date, no study has replicated this finding in an animal model. The dorsa of adult wild-type FVB mice were shaved and depilated. The dorsal skin was then distracted away from the body and irradiated (45 Gy). Four weeks after irradiation, 1.5-cc fat or sham grafts were placed in the dorsal subcutaneous space. Gross results were analyzed photometrically. The animals were euthanized at 4 and 8 weeks after fat or sham grafting and their dorsal skin was processed for histologic analysis. Hyperpigmentation and ulceration were grossly improved in fat-grafted mice compared with sham-grafted controls. This improvement manifested histologically in a number of ways. For example, epidermal thickness measurements demonstrated decreased thickness in fat-grafted animals at both time points (20.6 ± 1.5 μm versus 55.2 ± 5.6 μm, p = 0.004; 17.6 ± 1.1 μm versus 36.3 ± 6.1 μm, p = 0.039). Picrosirius red staining demonstrated a diminished scar index in fat-treated animals at both time points as well (0.54 ± 0.05 versus 0.74 ± 0.07, p = 0.034; and 0.55 ± 0.06 versus 0.93 ± 0.07, p = 0.001). Fat grafting attenuates inflammation in acute radiodermatitis and slows the progression of fibrosis in chronic radiodermatitis.

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