Recombinant Humanized Type III Collagen Enhances Fat Graft Retention by Promoting Angiogenesis and Adipocyte Viability in a Nude Mouse Model.

Authors

Kaifang Hua, Xinyu Zhang, Jiyang Li, Zonglin Huang, Xiangyu Liu, Yuneng Wang, Chanyuan Jiang, Kaixuan Guo, Xuefeng Han

Published in

Aesthetic surgery journal. Jul 02, 2026. Epub Jul 02, 2026.

Abstract

Autologous fat grafting (AFG) is limited by variable long-term retention. Type III collagen (Col III) may support angiogenesis, adipocyte viability, and immunomodulation.
We evaluated whether recombinant humanized type III collagen (rhCol III) improves fat graft survival in a concentration-dependent manner.
Human lipoaspirate was mixed 1:1 (v/v) with rhCol III at 0 (normal saline, NS), 2, 4, or 8 mg/mL and grafted subcutaneously to the dorsum of female BALB/c nude mice. At postoperative weeks 1, 2, 4, and 12, we assessed volume retention, histology (H&E), collagen deposition, adipocyte viability, vascularization, and expression of PPARG, CEBPA, VEGFA, and FGF2. RNA-seq at week 2 profiled rhCol III-associated transcriptional changes. In vitro, human ADSC proliferation, adhesion, migration, and adipogenesis were tested under rhCol III exposure.
rhCol III reduced volume loss from week 2 onward, with maximal retention at 4 mg/mL. Histology showed superior structural integrity at 4 mg/mL. Collagen content increased dose-dependently (greatest at 8 mg/mL). Perilipin 1 and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31) were elevated with rhCol III, with sustained increases at 4 mg/mL, paralleling upregulation of PPARG, CEBPA, VEGFA, and FGF2. In vitro, rhCol III enhanced ADSC proliferation, adhesion, migration, and adipogenesis, optimal at 4 mg/mL. RNA-seq indicated immune, adhesion, and extracellular matrix programs centered on PI3K-Akt and integrin/matrix-receptor signaling.
rhCol III enhances fat graft retention by promoting angiogenesis, adipocyte viability, and favorable immune remodeling, with an optimal concentration near 4 mg/mL. rhCol III shows promise as a biomaterial adjunct to improve and standardize AFG outcomes.

PMID:
42391480
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 03 Jul 2026.

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