Lipogems Shows Promise for Restoring Blood Flow in Limb Ischemia
F. Bianchi, E. Olivi, M. Baldassarre, F.A. Giannone, M. Laggetta, S. Valente, C. Cavallini, R. Tassinari, S. Canaider, G. Pasquinelli, C. Tremolada, C. Ventura · 2014
Study Tests Processed Fat Tissue in Animals with Poor Leg Circulation
Researchers in Italy investigated whether Lipogems® could help restore blood flow and repair damaged muscle tissue. They studied 16 rats with chronic hind limb ischemia—a condition where blood flow to the legs is severely reduced. This mirrors what happens in humans with peripheral artery disease (PAD). The team compared Lipogems (micro-fragmented fat tissue) against stem cells that had been removed from fat and grown in a laboratory for weeks.
Lipogems Outperformed Lab-Grown Stem Cells for Tissue Repair
The results showed a clear winner. Lipogems delivered significantly better muscle tissue repair than expanded stem cells. This was true even when the lab-grown cells received special treatment designed to boost their healing abilities. The researchers measured repair using blood flow probes and tissue analysis. Lipogems-treated animals showed healthier muscle fibers. Their muscles maintained better size and structure compared to those receiving expanded cells.
New Blood Vessel Growth Was Strongest with Lipogems
One key finding involved arteriogenesis—the body's process of enlarging existing small blood vessels to restore circulation. Lipogems triggered a significantly stronger arteriogenic response than any other treatment. This matters because effective healing of ischemic tissue requires both new blood vessel formation and enlargement of existing pathways. The intact fat tissue appeared to coordinate this complex process better than isolated cells.
Reduced Inflammation Observed in Lipogems-Treated Tissue
Animals receiving Lipogems showed lower levels of inflammatory infiltration in their muscles. Inflammation is a double-edged sword in healing. Some is necessary, but too much can damage tissue further. The researchers believe Lipogems acts as an immunomodulatory (immune-balancing) product. This property may help create better conditions for tissue repair while preventing excessive immune reactions.
Why Intact Fat Tissue Works Better Than Extracted Cells
The study offers insight into why Lipogems outperformed expanded stem cells:
Preserved natural structure: Lipogems keeps the stromal-vascular niche intact. This is the supportive environment where stem cells naturally live and function.
No expansion needed: Lab-grown cells require eight to twelve weeks of culture. This process causes significant aging (senescence) and reduced healing ability.
Better paracrine signaling: When co-cultured with blood vessel cells, Lipogems boosted their growth more effectively than expanded cells. This suggests stronger release of helpful growth factors.
Contains pericytes and MSCs: These regenerative cells remain in their natural setting, potentially working together more effectively.
What This Means for Patients Considering Treatment
This animal study provides encouraging evidence that Lipogems may help patients with peripheral artery disease. The technology offers several potential advantages for people with poor limb circulation:
Same-day procedure: Unlike treatments requiring weeks of cell expansion, Lipogems can be processed and used during a single visit.
Uses your own tissue: The autologous approach eliminates concerns about donor tissue rejection.
Minimally invasive: Fat tissue is collected through a gentle liposuction-like procedure.
However, patients should understand this was an animal study using human fat tissue transplanted into rats. While results are promising, human clinical trials are needed to confirm these benefits in people with PAD. The study demonstrates proof of concept—that Lipogems can promote blood vessel growth and tissue repair in ischemic conditions.
If you have peripheral artery disease and are exploring treatment options, discuss this research with your physician. They can help determine whether Lipogems might be appropriate for your specific situation and explain what results have been seen in human applications.
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Source: Bianchi et al., 2014.
Original Publication
Lipogems, a New Modality of Fat Tissue Handling to Enhance Tissue Repair in Chronic Hind Limb Ischemia
F. Bianchi, E. Olivi, M. Baldassarre, F.A. Giannone, M. Laggetta, S. Valente, C. Cavallini, R. Tassinari, S. Canaider, G. Pasquinelli, C. Tremolada, C. Ventura · 2014
Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) may represent an easy-to-harvest tool for cell therapy of peripheral artery disease, though prolonged ex vivo expansion leads to significant senescence and decline in multipotency, resulting in clinical outcomes below expectations. We developed a non-enzymatic method yielding microfractured fat tissue (Lipogems) harboring intact stromal-vascular niche and pericyte/mesenchymal stem cells. Human Lipogems and Lipogems-derived hASCs, preconditioned with or without a vasculogenic mixture including hyaluronan, butyric and retinoic acids (H+B+R), were transplanted into the gracilis muscle of 16 rats subjected to chronic hind limb ischemia. After two weeks, tissue rescue was assessed by perivascular flow probe and immunohistochemistry. Coculture of HUVECs with Lipogems or Lipogems-derived hASCs was performed, and vasculogenic gene transcription and secreted cytokines were assessed. Xenogeneic transplantation of human Lipogems elicited significantly higher muscle tissue repair, lower inflammatory infiltration, and higher arteriogenic response than expanded Lipogems-derived hASCs, even when preconditioned with H+B+R. Lipogems led to remarkably better preservation of muscular fiber size and enhanced endothelial cell proliferation more than untreated or preconditioned hASCs. Lipogems emerges as a transplantable immunomodulatory fat tissue product with remarkable arteriogenic and paracrine properties for rescuing ischemic limb.