Background
Autologous fat grafting is a common method for soft tissue defect repair. However, the high absorption rate of transplanted fat is currently a bottleneck in the process. Excessive inflammation is one of the main reasons for poor fat transplantation. Salvianolic acid B (Sal-B) is a herbal medicine that shows promise for improving the effectiveness of fat transplantation.
Conclusions
Sal-B could serve as a promising agent for improving the effect of fat transplantation by inhibiting the polarization of M1 macrophages through NF-κB signaling.
Methods
In vivo, 0.2 mL of Coleman fat was transplanted into nude mice along with Sal-B. The grafts were evaluated by histologic analysis at 2, 4, and 12 weeks posttransplantation and by microcomputed tomography at 4 weeks posttransplantation. In vitro ribonucleic acid sequencing, cell proliferation assays, anti-inflammatory activity assays, molecular docking studies, and kinase activity assays were performed in RAW264.7 cells to detect the potential mechanism.
Objective
The aim of this study was to improve fat graft survival by injecting Sal-B into fat grafts locally.
Results
Sal-B significantly improved fat graft survival and attenuated adipose tissue fibrosis and inflammation. Sal-B also inhibited the polarization of M1 macrophages in fat grafts. In vitro, Sal-B inhibited the proliferation and activation of inflammatory pathways in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, Sal-B had an inhibitory effect on NF-κB (nuclear factor κ light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells) signaling. This bioactivity of Sal-B may result from its selective binding to the kinase domain of the inhibitor of NF-κB kinase subunit β. Conclusions: Sal-B could serve as a promising agent for improving the effect of fat transplantation by inhibiting the polarization of M1 macrophages through NF-κB signaling.