The study of leucocyte and platelet-rich plasma combined with rabbit synovial stem cells for the repair of knee joint cartilage injury

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (L-PRP) combined with rabbit synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs) on cartilage repair in knee-joint injured. Methods 60 healthy New Zealand white rabbits were used to establish models of knee-joint cartilage defects, SMSCs were separated, purified and identified, and then L-PRP was prepared using two step centrifugation. The levels of platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in whole blood and L-PRP were determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). After 12 weeks of modeling, the injured cartilage was grossly observed, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe cartilage repair under light microscope; histological examination was performed according to the O’Driscoll histologic standard. Results The levels of platelet in L-PRP increased to (135.77±50.56)×104/μl were more 6 times than whole blood [(22.38±3.20)×104/μl, P=0.001], and the levels of PDGF-BB, TGF-β1, bFGF, VEGF in L-PRP were increased as (32.50±5.10) ng/ml, (124.26±32.30) ng/ml, (87.14±12.50) pg/ml, (174.50±31.22) pg/ml significantly higher than whole blood as [(6.28±1.11) ng/ml, (21.72±3.70) ng/ml, (25.85±4.52) pg/ml, (37.87±5.33) pg/ml], the differences were statistically significant (P=0.005, 0.003, 0.008, 0.002). Post-operation 12 weeks, the results from grossly observation, HE staining and histological examination indicated that the repair effect in L-PRP group, SMSCs group, L-PRP combined with SMSCs group was significantly better than in normal saline group, L-PRP and SMSCs group, respectively. Conclusion Both L-PRP and SMSCs be able to promote cartilage repair of knee-joint injured, and L-PRP combined with SMSCs group was be superior to L-PRP and SMSCs group respectively. Key words: Knee-joint; Cartilage injury; Platelet-rich plasma; Rabbit synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells; Stem cells