Platelet-Rich Plasma in Dermatology: New Insights on the Cellular Mechanism of Skin Repair and Regeneration

Abstract

The skin’s recognised functions may undergo physiological alterations due to ageing, manifesting as varying degrees of facial wrinkles, diminished tautness, density, and volume. Additionally, these functions can be disrupted (patho)physiologically through various physical and chemical injuries, including surgical trauma, accidents, or chronic conditions like ulcers associated with diabetes mellitus, venous insufficiency, or obesity. Advancements in therapeutic interventions that boost the skin’s innate regenerative abilities could significantly enhance patient care protocols. The application of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is widely recognized for its aesthetic and functional benefits to the skin. Yet, the endorsement of PRP’s advantages often borders on the dogmatic, with its efficacy commonly ascribed solely to the activation of fibroblasts by the factors contained within platelet granules. PRP therapy is a cornerstone of regenerative medicine which involves the autologous delivery of conditioned plasma enriched by platelets. This is achieved by centrifugation, removing erythrocytes while retaining platelets and their granules. Despite its widespread use, the precise sequences of cellular activation, the specific cellular players, and the molecular machinery that drive PRP-facilitated healing are still enigmatic. There is still a paucity of definitive and robust studies elucidating these mechanisms. In recent years, telocytes (TCs)—a unique dermal cell population—have shown promising potential for tissue regeneration in various organs, including the dermis. TCs’ participation in neo-angiogenesis, akin to that attributed to PRP, and their role in tissue remodelling and repair processes within the interstitia of several organs (including the dermis), offer intriguing insights. Their potential to contribute to, or possibly orchestrate, the skin regeneration process following PRP treatment has elicited considerable interest. Therefore, pursuing a comprehensive understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms at work, particularly those involving TCs, their temporal involvement in structural recovery following injury, and the interconnected biological events in skin wound healing and regeneration represents a compelling field of study.

The use of platelet rich plasma in the treatment of degenerative joint disease in cats: an exploratory case series

“…The microtubules and cytoplasmic filaments of platelets are thought to be extremely important in granule trafficking and release, but are ultimately responsible for the formation of fibrin, healing cartilage, and commencing collagen production ( 50 ). The microtubule-binding proteins, dynein, dynactin, and kinesins, which contribute to the so called “motor activity” along the tubules, also provides structural support for the platelets, particularly when they are subjected to shearing forces in both circulation and in high friction wound injury ( 51 ), making platelets uniquely suited to high motion environments such as joints.…”

Aesthetic Rehabilitation Medicine: Enhancing Wellbeing beyond Functional Recovery

“…PRP preparations contain about 1100 different proteins, including growth factors, and 1,000,000 platelets/µL, that can boost physiological homeostatic processes and also create further scaffolds for the reparatory and remodelling processes [77].…”