Bioactive factors in platelet-rich plasma obtained by apheresis.
BACKGROUND
The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in regenerative approaches in cartilage repair is becoming more common. Information about PRP composition and its content of putative bioactive chondrogenic growth factors (GF) that may support cartilage regeneration is scarce.


METHODS
GF composition of a pool of 6 PRP preparations was determined using Protein Antibody Membrane Arrays covering 507 GF, signaling molecules, and receptors. To verify the chondrogenic GF variability in PRP, Growth Factor Antibody Membrane Arrays covering 26 GF were applied to 6 individual PRP preparations. Selected GF involved in chondrogenic differentiation were quantified by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
417 out of 507 possible detectable proteins were present in the PRP pool, including 76 GF. Quantification of selected chondrogenic GF by ELISA showed an average of 0.31 ng/ml bone morphogenetic protein-2, 0.50 ng/ml connective tissue growth factor, 0.76 ng/ml fibroblast growth factor-2, and 0.59 ng/ml transforming growth factor-β3.


CONCLUSIONS
PRP as a therapeutic option in regenerative cartilage repair strategies is a powerful tool for the local application of chondrogenic GF to the site of injury. Chondrogenic GF are present in PRP and may support cartilage repair by inducing cell differentiation and cartilage matrix formation.
TransTissue Technologies GmbH, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Jan Philipp
JP
Krüger
TransTissue Technologies GmbH, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Undine
U
Freymannx
TransTissue Technologies GmbH, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Samuel
S
Vetterlein
TransTissue Technologies GmbH, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Katja
K
Neumann
TransTissue Technologies GmbH, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany ; Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Michaela
M
Endres
TransTissue Technologies GmbH, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany ; Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Christian
C
Kaps
Apheresis; Cartilage regeneration; Chondrogenesis; Growth factors; Platelet-rich plasma