What is Stromal Vascular Fraction
What is Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF)?
It’s well known that your fat contains a high number of viable stem cells. Since the late 90s and early 2000’s scientists have been studying adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) in the lab. They’ve been able to see these cells differentiate into all kinds of functional tissue: bone, cartilage, muscle, nerve etc. Around 2007 and 2008, physicians began to surgically isolate ADSCs in a clinical setting and starting taking advantage of some of the cells inherent properties, like their abilities to home in on sites of inflammation, differentiate into function, and signal other cells to act in a restorative way, to take care of patients.
The stem cells ultimately returned to patients are a part of what’s called “stromal vascular fraction” or SVF. SVF contains a mix of stem cells: adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), pericytes, pre-adipocytes. SVF also contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and exosomes (small mRNA containing important cellular messages).
Tens, if not hundreds of thousands of SVF procedures have been performed in the last 10 years around the world. It’s become popular, if not routine, amongst football players, soccer players, and boxers, in order to improve sports injuries and recovery times. The advancements made in the past 10 years have led to a hockey stick curve of peer reviewed scientific publications that have come up supporting the safety and efficacy of SVF. Private insurances and at least one state government (Arkansas) have started to cover these therapies. Many international governments are adopting favorable legislation to promote autologous SVF therapy in their countries.
The safety profile surrounding SVF is pretty spectacular, which shouldn’t be a surprise as the cells being given to you have just come from you own body. But just in case you’re wondering, here’s a list of some publications touting the safety of SVF.
Berman, Mark, and Elliot Lander. “A Prospective Safety Study of Autologous Adipose-Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction Using a Specialized Surgical Processing System.” The American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, vol. 34, no. 3, 2017, pp. 129–142.,
Duma C, Lander E, Berman M. “Human Intracerebroventricular (ICV) Injection of Autologous, Non-Engineered, Adipose-Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction (ADSVF) for Neurodegenerative Disorders: Results of a 3-Year Phase 1 Study of 113 Injections in 31 Patients.” Molecular Biology Reports, 2019, doi:10.1007/s11033-019-04983-5.
Granel, Brigitte, et al. “Safety, Tolerability and Potential Efficacy of Injection of Autologous Adipose-Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction in the Fingers of Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: an Open-Label Phase I Trial.” Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, vol. 74, no. 12, 2014, pp. 2175–2182., doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-205681.
Krastev, Todor, et al. “Long-Term Follow-up of Autologous Fat Transfer vs Conventional Breast Reconstruction and Association With Cancer Relapse in Patients With Breast Cancer.” JAMA Surgery, vol. 154, no. 1, 2019, p. 56., doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2018.3744.
Lander, Elliot B. “Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction: A New Era of Personal Cell Therapy.” Stem Cells Research, Development & Therapy, vol. 4, 2018, pp. 1–6., doi:10.24966/srdt-2060/100011.
Lander, Elliot B., et al. “Safety of Stromal Vascular Fraction Cells Applications in Chronic Pain.” Techniques in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management, vol. 19, no. 1-2, 2015, pp. 10–13., doi:10.1053/j.trap.2016.09.002.
Michalek, Jaroslav, et al. “Stromal Vascular Fraction Cell Therapy for a Stroke Patient—Cure without Side Effects.” Brain Sciences, vol. 9, no. 3, 2019, p. 55., doi:10.3390/brainsci9030055.
Ra, Jeong Chan, et al. “Effect of the Multiple Intravenous Administration of Cultured Human Autologous Adipose-Derived Stem Cells on Tumor Biomarker Levels.” Journal of Clinical Case Reports, vol. 7, no. 11, 2017, doi:10.4172/2165-7920.10001040.
Rodriguez, Jorge Paz, et al. “Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rationale and Clinical Safety.” International Archives of Medicine, vol. 5, no. 1, 2012, p. 5., doi:10.1186/1755-7682-5-5.
Toyserkani, Navid Mohamadpour, et al. “Concise Review: A Safety Assessment of Adipose-Derived Cell Therapy in Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review of Reported Adverse Events.” STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, vol. 6, no. 9, 2017, pp. 1786–1794., doi:10.1002/sctm.17-0031.