Salvia miltiorrhiza Injection Promotes the Adipogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

Background: Autologous fat grafting is a commonly used strategy to repair soft-tissue defects that has shown an approximately 40 percent increase in use in the past 5 years. However, the high reabsorption rates (average, 50 percent) often result in an unsatisfactory outcome. Current approaches aimed at increasing the blood supply of grafted fat have little clinical support. Here, we found that Salvia miltiorrhiza could improve fat graft survival by promoting adipogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells by means of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) and CCAAT-enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBP alpha) signaling. Methods: Adipose tissue was harvested from the thighs of two women. Adipose-derived stem cells were characterized by flow cytometry (CD29, CD90, and CD105). The samples (2 x 10(4) cells/liter) were incubated with or without S. miltiorrhiza injection (0.001, 0.005, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 5 g/liter) during adipogenic differentiation. Oil Red O staining, triglyceride content, and adipogenic gene expression (PPAR gamma and C/EBP alpha) were performed to detect adipogenic differentiation. Results: The triglyceride content in the 0.5-g/liter group was increased significantly compared with that in control groups (0.231 +/- 0.010, 76.90 percent versus control, p < 0.001, day 9; 0.303 +/- 0.010, 91.28 percent versus control, p < 0.001, day 10; 0.361 +/- 0.008, 86.65 percent versus control, p < 0.001, day 11). The expression levels of PPAR gamma and C/EBP alpha in the 0.5-g/liter group were both increased significantly compared with those in control groups (0.0097 +/- 0.0015, 48.1 percent versus control, p < 0.05 for PPAR gamma; 0.0423 +/- 0.003, 112 percent versus control, p < 0.001 for C/EBP alpha). Conclusions: S. miltiorrhiza injection has a positive effect on adipogenesis of adipose-derived stem cells in vitro. The effect of this treatment on improving fat graft survival needs more in vivo research.

Automated summary

In this study, Salvia miltiorrhiza injection was found to enhance adipogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells, potentially improving fat graft survival. However, further in vivo research is needed to fully understand the effects of this treatment on fat graft outcomes.