Abstract

Treatments for radiation-induced fibrosis range from vitamin E and pentoxifylline systemically to deferoxamine and fat grafting locally. Regarding fat grafting, volume retention hinders its long-term functionality and is affected by two factors: inflammation and necrosis secondary to hypovascularity.We aimed to simultaneously improve fat graft retention and radiation-induced fibrosis by integrating vitamin E and pentoxifylline into fat grafts locally.Forty adult CD-1 nude male mice at 6 weeks of age underwent scalp irradiation and recovered for four weeks to allow for the development of fibrosis. Mice received 200µL of donor human fat graft to the scalp. Mice were separated into 4 conditions: no grafting, fat graft without treatment, graft treated with pentoxifylline, and graft treated with vitamin E. Fat graft volume retention was monitored in-vivo using microCT scans at weeks 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 after grafting. Histological and cytokine analysis of the scalp skin and fat grafts were also performed.Vitamin E (VE) treated grafts had significant improvement in dermal thickness and collagen density of overlying skin compared to all other groups. VE decreased 8-isoprostane and increased CD31 + staining compared to the other grafted groups. Cytokine analysis revealed decreased inflammatory and increased angiogenic markers in both the fat graft and overlying skin of the vitamin E group. Fat graft volume retention was significantly improved in the vitamin E group starting at 1 week post grafting.Radiation-induced fibrosis and fat graft volume retention are both simultaneously improved with local administration of vitamin E.

View details for DOI 10.1093/asj/sjac066

View details for PubMedID 35350074