Human-adipose Xenografts Improve Burn Wound Healing in Mice

Acute treatment of complex burns is a critically unmet need.
    
Adipose and adipose-derived stem cell therapies have met success in the treatment of thermal injuries; however, the exact mechanism or effective agent is still under exploration.

Prior reports vary highly as to whether a healthy autologous vascular fraction is necessary or whether xenologous, decellularized, or fractionated adipose extracts may be used.

Aim: To evaluate the role of xenologous adipose extracts and their extracellular matrix in the treatment of the post-burn scar.

Bilateral 1 cm full-thickness thermal injuries.

1.0 mm emulsified human lipoaspirate of 300 uL.

Followed 6-weeks with photography and endpoint histology.

In burns treated with adipose xenograft at time of burn, no difference was noted in surface area or burn morphology at 1-week post-injury. 
   
By 2-weeks rapid resolution of inflammation and wound surface area was noted, which was significant by 4 weeks. 
   
At the endpoint of 6 –weeks the total wound surface area of the fat treated group was almost half of the untreated group.

Adipose engraftment resulted is histologic evidence of scar resolution with consistent revascularization and survival of the subcutaneous adipose xenograft at 6-weeks. 
   
Collagen density was significantly lower in the fat group with visible adipose tissue and greater overall tissue thickness.

In contrast to prior data suggesting an autologous-only approach, our findings support a hypothesis that the active functional agent in adipose xenograft for burns in not directly dependent on species match. 
   
This provides evidence to support more broadly applicable approach to off-the-shelf adipose-derived therapeutics in acute burns.