Relationships of Age and Sex with Cytokine Content and Distribution in Human Platelet Fibrin Gels

Meng-Yi Bai,Meng-Han Chuang,Sung-Ling Tang,Wing P Chan,Ming-Fang Lin,Chin-Chean Wong

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-28376-z

Abstract

We aimed to determine relationships between age and sex with cytokine content and distribution in human platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) gel. Rabbit PRF was harvested from whole blood (n = 6). Human PRF was collected from 36 healthy volunteers (1:1 men:women) without systemic diseases and not current undergoing medical treatment. Histological analysis and optical microscopy were used to assess the three-dimensional structure of the PRF network. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, quantification of adenosine triphosphate, and bioluminescence imaging of PRF sections were used to assess cytokine and entrapped platelet distribution. Three-dimensional structures of fibrin networks revealed concentration gradients of the platelet-derived growth factor beta beta homodimer and the transforming growth factor-beta 1. Histological analysis of PRF sections (from the red blood cell end to the plasma end of a clot) showed a gradual increase in average porosity, most prominently in PRF clots from young and middle-aged men and women, and a decrease in compactness along the longitudinal axis of the PRF gel. The end of the PRF gel closest to the red blood cell layer is the essence of the PRF clot, and the ability to generate platelets depends on sex and age in humans.

Highlights

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) are innovative surgical materials used in tissue engineering applications[1]
In a previous study of PRF gels using a rabbit model, platelet cytokines, the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) beta beta homodimer (PDGF-BB) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 (TGF-β1), formed concentration gradients where higher concentrations were at the red blood cell (RBC) end and lower concentrations were at the plasma end
The levels of PDGF-BB, TGF-β1 and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were significantly greater in clot[1] than in serum[1] or extract[1]

Summary

Introduction

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) are innovative surgical materials used in tissue engineering applications[1]. Histological analysis was used to reveal that the porosity in PRF samples gradually increased from 6.5% at the RBC end to 40.3% at the plasma end These important findings can be used to improve the clinical efficacy of PRFs. a previous report demonstrated that both age and sex influence the levels of some platelet cytokines in PRPs15, and this effect could account for inconsistencies between reports of the clinical benefits of PRP treatment. We used human PRF gels obtained from centrifuged whole blood to assess how the content and distribution of various cytokines are related to age, sex and the three-dimensional fibrin network structure of PRF These results could improve the clinical applications of PRF and aid clinicians in determining whether PRF is clinically useful

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