Platelet-Rich Plasma: The Choice of Activation Method Affects the Release of Bioactive Molecules.

Carola Cavallo,Loredana Pratelli,Maurilio Marcacci,Giuseppe Filardo,Giulia Merli,Brunella Grigolo,Alice Roffi,Elizaveta Kon,Erminia Mariani

doi:10.1155/2016/6591717

Carola Cavallo, Loredana Pratelli + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6591717

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Abstract

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a low-cost procedure to deliver high concentrations of autologous growth factors (GFs). Platelet activation is a crucial step that might influence the availability of bioactive molecules and therefore tissue healing. Activation of PRP from ten voluntary healthy males was performed by adding 10% of CaCl2, 10% of autologous thrombin, 10% of a mixture of CaCl2 + thrombin, and 10% of collagen type I. Blood derivatives were incubated for 15 and 30 minutes and 1, 2, and 24 hours and samples were evaluated for the release of VEGF, TGF-β1, PDGF-AB, IL-1β, and TNF-α. PRP activated with CaCl2, thrombin, and CaCl2/thrombin formed clots detected from the 15-minute evaluation, whereas in collagen-type-I-activated samples no clot formation was noticed. Collagen type I produced an overall lower GF release. Thrombin, CaCl2/thrombin, and collagen type I activated PRPs showed an immediate release of PDGF and TGF-β 1 that remained stable over time, whereas VEGF showed an increasing trend from 15 minutes up to 24 hours. CaCl2 induced a progressive release of GFs from 15 minutes and increasing up to 24 hours. The method chosen to activate PRP influences both its physical form and the releasate in terms of GF amount and release kinetic.

Highlights

Tissue repair in musculoskeletal injuries is often a slow and sometimes incomplete process, with patient suffering pain and limited function, and it is accompanied by high costs to society, in terms of both money spent on healthcare and loss of work
CaCl2/thrombin, and collagen type I activated Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) showed an immediate release of PDGF and TGF-β1 that remained stable over time, whereas VEGF showed an increasing trend from 15 minutes up to 24 hours
The main finding of our study is that the activation modality influences PRP clot formation, leading to differences in terms of both amount and release kinetics of platelet-derived growth factors (GFs)

Summary

Introduction

Tissue repair in musculoskeletal injuries is often a slow and sometimes incomplete process, with patient suffering pain and limited function, and it is accompanied by high costs to society, in terms of both money spent on healthcare and loss of work. Since several studies have underlined the role of growth factors (GFs) in the regulation of normal tissue structure and the reaction to tissue damage, their use is thought to be useful in clinical practice to promote rapid healing with high quality tissue and allow an early and safe return to unrestricted activity [1]. Platelets constitute a reservoir of critical GFs and cytokines which may govern and regulate the tissue healing process. The bioactive molecules secreted by platelet αgranules are involved in several cellular activities such as stem cell trafficking, proliferation, and differentiation, with a complex effect on pro/anti-inflammatory and anabolic/catabolic processes [2]. With respect to purified individual GFs, platelets have the theoretical advantage of containing various bioactive molecules with a natural balance of anabolic and catabolic functions, possibly optimizing the tissue environment and favouring the healing process [2].

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