title: Platelet gel from cord blood: a novel tool for tissue engineering.
abstract: Recent findings show that growth factors (GF) play a relevant role in regenerative medicine. Platelets (PLT) may be used as “drug-stores” of GF that can be released upon activation by PLT granules. In this context, PLT gel (PG) from peripheral blood is currently used to improve tissue healing in orthopedic, oral maxillofacial and dermatologic surgery. Recent findings on multiple biological properties of human umbilical cord blood (CB) and its high level of viral safety prompted us to investigate the characteristics of its PLTs and the possibility to produce PLT gel from cord blood. Our study shows that CB PG releases high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), substantial amounts of fibroblast growth factor (FGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGFbeta1), and minimal amounts of PDGF-AB. These findings suggest that CB PG can be a preferable tool for tissue engineering applications where high levels of VEGF and PDGF may be desirable.
authors.affiliation: Cell Factory, Center of Transfusion Medicine, Cellular Therapy and Cryobiology, Department of Regenerative Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parazzi
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lazzari
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rebulla
mesh_terms: D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005782:Gels / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D015539:Platelet Activation; D010976:Platelet Count; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins