Intralesional Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Reverse Established Dermal Fibrosis and Modulate Angiogenesis-Related Readouts in a Murine Systemic Sclerosis Model.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by progressive dermal fibrosis and microvascular dysfunction, and no approved therapy reliably reverses established skin fibrosis or durably restores microvascular perfusion. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) possess anti-fibrotic, immunomodulatory, and vascular-related parameters properties, but their therapeutic impact in a strictly therapeutic (rather than preventive) SSc-like setting remains incompletely defined. Methods Bleomycin-induced systemic sclerosis model was induced in male C57BL/6 mice by daily subcutaneous bleomycin injections (100 μg) into dorsal skin for 28 days. On day 14, mice received a single intralesional injection of ASCs (1 × 10 5 cells) or vehicle. At day 28, cutaneous perfusion was measured by laser Doppler perfusion imaging, and dorsal skin was analyzed by histology, hydroxyproline assay, RT-qPCR, and immunohistochemistry for CD34, α-SMA, and TNF-α. To support mechanistic interpretation, TGF-β1-stimulated dermal fibroblasts were co-cultured with ASCs and fibrosis-related gene expression was assessed. Results Intralesional ASC administration significantly attenuated bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis, reducing dermal thickness (244.0-163.5 μm) and collagen area fraction (87.2-62.8%). Hydroxyproline content decreased from 0.187 to 0.121 μg/mg tissue. ASC treatment also suppressed profibrotic and inflam

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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