Hydrogen-Generating Silicon-Based Agent Improves Fat Graft Survival in Rats

Regulating excessive inflammation and oxidative stress in fat grafting may improve retention rates. Hydrogen effectively combats oxidative stress and inflammation and reportedly inhibits ischemia-reperfusion injury in various organs. However, with conventional methods of hydrogen administration, incorporating hydrogen continuously into the body over a long period of time is difficult. The authors hypothesized that a silicon (Si)-based agent they recently developed would aid in fat grafting, as it can generate large amounts of hydrogen continuously in the body. Fat grafting was performed on the backs of rats fed either a normal or 1.0 wt% Si-based agent-containing diet. To investigate synergistic effects with adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs), which improve retention rates of fat grafting, fat grafting with ASCs (1.0 × 10 5 /400 mg fat) was also performed in each rat. Postoperative retention rates of grafted fat over time, inflammatory indices, apoptosis, oxidative stress markers, histologic findings, and expression levels of inflammation-related cytokines and growth factors were compared among the 4 groups. Intake of Si-based agent and addition of ASCs significantly reduced inflammatory indices, oxidative stress, and apoptosis of grafted fat, and improved long-term retention rates, histologic measures, and grafted fat quality. Under the experimental conditions, intake of the Si-based agent and addition of ASCs yielded comparable improvements in fat graft retention. Combining the 2 enhanced these effects. Oral administration of a hydrogen-generating Si-based agent may improve grafted fat retention by regulating the inflammatory response and oxidative stress in grafted fat. This study demonstrates improved grafted fat retention rates using a Si-based agent. This Si-based agent has the potential to expand the range of therapeutic indications of hydrogen-based therapy to conditions for which hydrogen has yet to be found effective, such as fat grafting.