Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) stimulates the extracellular matrix metabolism of porcine nucleus pulposus and anulus fibrosus cells cultured in alginate beads.
METHODS
In vitro assessment of the effects of platelet-rich plasma on the extracellular matrix metabolism of porcine intervertebral disc cells.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether platelet-rich plasma is effective in stimulating cell proliferation and extracellular matrix metabolism by porcine disc cells cultured in alginate beads.


BACKGROUND
Platelet-rich plasma is used to accelerate wound healing and tissue regeneration. Activated platelets release multiple growth factors that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and morphogenesis. Individual growth factors present in platelet-rich plasma have been demonstrated to affect the metabolism of intervertebral disc cells.


METHODS
Platelet-poor and platelet-rich plasma was isolated from fresh porcine blood using a commercially available platelet concentration system. After preculture for 7 days and serum starvation for 24 hours, the beads containing nucleus pulposus and anulus fibrosus cells were then cultured for another 72 hours in serum-free medium, 10% fetal bovine serum, 10% platelet-poor plasma, or 10% platelet-rich plasma. The synthesis of proteoglycans and collagen, the accumulation of proteoglycans, and the DNA content were biochemically assessed.


RESULTS
Platelet-rich plasma had a mild stimulatory effect on cell proliferation of intervertebral disc cells. Platelet-rich plasma treatment significantly upregulated proteoglycan and collagen synthesis and proteoglycan accumulation when compared with platelet-poor plasma.


CONCLUSIONS
Platelet-rich plasma was effective in stimulating cell proliferation and extracellular matrix metabolism. The response to platelet-rich plasma was greater in the case of anulus fibrosus cells than of nucleuspulposus cells. The local administration of platelet-rich plasma might stimulate intervertebral disc repair. In addition, given the risks of using animal serum for tissue engineering, autologous blood may gain favor as a source of growth factors and serum supplements needed for stimulating cells to engineer intervertebral disc tissues.
Akeda
Koji
K
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush Medical College at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
An
Howard S
HS
Pichika
Rajeswari
R
Attawia
Mohamed
M
Thonar
Eugene J-M A
EJ
Lenz
Mary Ellen
ME
Uchida
Atsumasa
A
Masuda
Koichi
K
D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005312:Fetal Blood; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature
D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D011509:Proteoglycans; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA