What's Inside Your Own Fat Tissue That Helps Heal Knee Arthritis?

Scientists Uncover the Cell Types in Lipogems® Treatment

Researchers in Croatia wanted to understand exactly which healing cells are present in the processed fat tissue used for knee osteoarthritis treatment. They compared regular lipoaspirate (fat tissue removed during liposuction) with Lipogems® micro-fragmented adipose tissue to see what makes the processed version potentially more effective.

Study Examined Fat Tissue from 12 Osteoarthritis Patients

The research team collected samples from twelve patients (six men and six women, aged 30 to 81) who received Lipogems® injections for knee osteoarthritis. Scientists used advanced laboratory techniques called flow cytometry to identify and count different cell types in both the original fat tissue and the specially processed Lipogems® product.

Lipogems® Processing Concentrates Key Healing Cells

The most important finding was that the Lipogems® processing method changes the mix of cells in meaningful ways. The micro-fragmentation process significantly increased the number of endothelial progenitor cells. These are young cells that help form new blood vessels. Better blood supply is essential for healing damaged cartilage and joint tissue.

At the same time, the processing reduced the number of white blood cells (immune cells) in the tissue. This could be beneficial because fewer immune cells may mean less inflammation when the tissue is injected into your joint.

Five Distinct Cell Types Identified in Both Samples

The researchers identified five different cell populations in both the original and processed fat tissue:

• Endothelial progenitor cells – young cells that develop into blood vessel cells

• Mature endothelial cells – cells that line blood vessels

• Pericytes – helper cells that wrap around blood vessels and support healing

• Transitional pericytes – cells moving between different stages

• Supra-adventitial adipose stromal cells – regenerative cells found near blood vessels in fat tissue

All of these cell types showed markers consistent with mesenchymal stem cells, which are known for their ability to support tissue repair.

Processing Creates a More Concentrated Healing Product

The study revealed that micro-fragmentation enriches the final product with cells that support blood vessel growth and tissue repair. The researchers noted this enrichment of endothelial progenitor cells is particularly noteworthy. These cells work alongside pericytes and other stem cells to promote healing in damaged tissues.

The team also observed some differences between male and female patients, suggesting hormones may influence cell composition. However, more research is needed to understand what this means for treatment outcomes.

What This Means for Your Treatment Decision

This laboratory study helps explain why Lipogems® may be effective for treating knee osteoarthritis. By processing your own fat tissue in a specific way, the treatment delivers a concentrated mix of cells designed by nature to support healing. The procedure uses your own tissue, so there's no risk of rejection.

While this study didn't measure patient outcomes like pain relief or improved function, it provides important scientific evidence about the biological mechanisms behind the treatment. Understanding which cells are present—and in what proportions—helps doctors and researchers continue improving regenerative treatments for joint conditions.

The research confirms that Lipogems® processing preserves multiple types of regenerative cells while concentrating those most helpful for tissue repair and blood vessel formation.

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Source: Polancec et al., Genes, 2019.