Where is Stromal Vascular Fraction?

Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) is the area between the blood vessel and the edge of the organ. Every organ has Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF). In here we have all the tissue cells (eg muscle cells, liver cells), all the supporting cells and all of the stem cells for that organ. (Muscle stem cells, Liver stem cells, Fat stem cells, etc). The purpose of these stem cells is to keep the organ healthy and replace cells when they are dying. These stem cells will look after all the cells in that organ – nerve cells, blood vessel cells, muscle or liver cells, etc. So muscle stem cells will help to maintain the health of the nerves and arteries and veins in the muscle as well as looking after the muscle cells.

Cross talk

All the cells talk to each other constantly. The messaging system has many components including peptides and proteins, mRNA, hormones, growth factors, etc.

Some of these peptides are called cytokines. (Cyto -cell, and Kine -kinesis or movement.) Cytokines are produced by various stromal cells and move away to deliver their message. Excess cytokines are produced and these will be stored in the tissues around the stem cells. (In the SVF). These cytokines are produced to control surrounding cells. For example in response to infection they will increase the inflammation (Inflammatory cytokines) that is needed to kill the infection. When the infection is cleared more cytokines can be sent out to turn the inflammation off (Anti-inflammatory cytokines). If a problem occurs and the infection is not turned off then we can move from a helpful short (Acute) inflammation to a persistent and damaging long term inflammation. (Chronic)

PRP

You may have heard the term PRP which stands for Platelet Rich Plasma. The power and excitement of PRP is possible because Stem Cells in the bone marrow have produced growth factors and cytokines ready for healing. The body then stores these in little granules inside the platelets. When the body is damaged these platelets release those growth factors to heal that damage. When you see a bruise your body has already released the growth factors and healing is in progress!

Growth factors in SVF’

Stem cells do the same thing in every organ. Growth factors and other healing signals are produced and stored in the tissue (SVF) around the stem cells. We can collect these growth factors and harness their healing power.

PRP or Stomal Vascular Fraction?

PRP is full of growth factors and is very effective for healing. The growth factors that are stored in the stromal vascular fraction can go to work the minute they are injected just the same as PRP does. The stem cells that are present in SVF will also start to work as soon as they are injected. They will produce more growth factors for the rest of your life. This is like having a PRP injection every day.

Which organ is best?

It is possible to harvest stem cells from any tissue. Some very good work has been done taking cells from the eye and multiplying them to use in healing the cornea. Because these scleral cells can only be harvested in very small numbers they need to be cultivated (Cloned) in order to be used. There are advantages and disadvantages to this. If we want large numbers of cells without cloning them, and we want everything else around them we need to choose a large organ that you don’t need. Skin is a large organ and most of us have some to spare. Bone Marrow is fairly easy to collect and we will replace what is removed. The largest and most active endocrine organ for many of us is fat. It is easy to collect large volumes and we don’t want to replace it.

Adipose (Fat) SVF

Adipose tissue has many advantages.

It is easy to collect. Liposuction has been perfected over the last 50 years and it is now possible for us to collect 200ml of fat from almost anyone with just a small incision and local anaesthetic. Most patients have a little oral sedation and are awake for the procedure. General anaesthetic is available if desired. The procedure is short and very safe.
Fat contains very large numbers of stem cells. 80% Mesenchymal and 20% Haematopoietic on average.
It is possible to keep all the growth factors that are in the SVF. These are not wasted.
Adipose is relatively protected. Stem cells get weaker as you get older except for stem cells in fat. Age makes no difference to their potency.
There are so many cells available that they do not need to be cultured to increase their number.
Adipose SVF is all your own tissue. You will not be receiving anyone else’s genetic material, diseases or infections.
Adipose is less expensive. Culturing cells is time consuming, expensive and has significant manufacturing risks.
Fresh cells are more effective. Part of this is because fresh cells maintain all their flexibility which allows them to pass between cells. This means they can move into blood vessels, pass through the lungs, and even enter the brain. Cultured cells are less effective. As they are cultured they become larger and stiffer. This results in them being trapped in the lungs after being injected into a vein.

Cultured cells have some advantages

Cultured cells can be produced in extremely large numbers and be made available for ‘Off the Shelf’ distribution
- As the manufactured numbers increase it is possible to reduce unit cost.
- There is no need for a surgical procedure to harvest the cells’
- By purchasing several different lines theoretically it would be possible to come closer to the mix of cells that is naturally available in the body.

Conclusions

Stromal Vascular Fraction is found in every organ of your body. Its purpose is protection, healing and cell replacement. We can collect all of the stem cells and growth factors in the SVF leaving all the fat cells behind. This allows us to keep all the healing power and move it to another location where your body has been overwhelmed by disease (eg Osteoarthritis, vascular disorders). This will restore the balance of healing cells allowing your body to heal itself. This is why adipose SVF gives such good results for the treatment of osteoarthritis pain.