The stromal vascular fraction mitigates bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis in mice by modulating vascular lesions and secreting antifibrotic factors at different stages of disease.

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 a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, leading to significant morbidity and reduced quality of life. Despite ongoing research, the underlying pathogenesis of SSc remains unclear, and treatment options are limited. Stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a naturally occurring cell population that includes mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent for various fibrotic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of SVF in a bleomycin-induced mouse model of skin fibrosis. Methods SVF was isolated from the inguinal adipose tissue of C57BL/6 mice and administered subcutaneously or intradermally at different disease stages to assess its impact on skin fibrosis. Histological analyses were performed to evaluate dermal thickness and collagen deposition. In vivo imaging and immunofluorescence were used to track the retention of SVF within fibrotic tissue over time, particularly in the subcutaneous layer. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were employed to examine cutaneous vascular pathology and the secretion of antifibrotic factors, such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2). Finally, we investigated the contribution of major SVF subsets to cutaneous fibrosis and the mechanisms by which

Evidence level

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

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