Evidence mapPaperPMID 42388980Full record

ReviewFrontiers in cell and developmental biology2026

Advancing fat graft survival: from adipose-derived stem cell mechanisms to next-generation regenerative strategies.

Xunuo Ma, Leiting Xu, Jianfei Zhang, Xiudi Wu, Tao Tao

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in cell and developmental biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Xunuo Ma *Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, China.
Leiting Xu *Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Jianfei Zhang *The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Xiudi Wu *The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Tao TaoNingbo College of Health Sciences, Ningbo, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Autologous fat grafting is widely used in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery because it is easy to harvest, well tolerated by the host, and produces natural-looking results. However, unpredictable graft resorption-with reported volume retention ranging from 30% to 80%-remains a major obstacle. To overcome this, two cell-based approaches have been developed: the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a freshly isolated mixture containing approximately 1%-10% adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ADSCs) plus other cell types, and culture-expanded ADSCs, a more homogeneous population obtained under Good Manufacturing Practice conditions. Meta-analyses show that while SVF increases fat retention by a modest margin, expanded ADSCs can achieve substantially greater improvements, highlighting important biological and regulatory differences between the two preparations. ADSCs support graft survival not only through classic growth factor secretion but also via immunomodulation, intercellular mitochondrial transfer, and exosomal microRNAs that co-ordinate angiogenesis, inflammation, and fibrosis. This review summarises current clinical evidence for ADSC- and SVF-enriched fat grafting in breast reconstruction, facial rejuvenation, scar management, chronic wounds, hair restoration, and paediatric as well as elderly populations. We also critically assess adjunctive strategies, including platelet-rich plasma, exosome-based acellular therapies, decellularized adipose matrices, engineered hydrogels, and nanofat grafting, and discuss the role of mitochondrial transfer enhancement. Standardised summary tables of clinical studies and emerging technologies are provided to facilitate evidence synthesis. Persistent challenges-such as the frequent conflation of SVF with ADSCs in the literature, the lack of standardised preparation and potency assays, and unresolved long-term oncological safety concerns-are examined, and priority areas for future research are proposed.

Indexed as

adipose-derived stem/stromal cellsangiogenesiscell-assisted lipotransferexosomal microRNAfat graft survivalimmunomodulationmitochondrial transferoncological safety

Identifiers

PMID42388980
PMCPMC13320101

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.