Platelet‐rich plasma promotes the regeneration of cartilage engineered by mesenchymal stem cells and collagen hydrogel via the TGF‐β/SMAD signaling pathway

Abstract

The tissue engineering technique using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and scaffolds is promising. Transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) is generally accepted as an chondrogenic agent, but immunorejection and unexpected side effects, such as tumorigenesis and heterogeneity, limit its clinical application. Autogenous platelet‐rich plasma (PRP), marked by low immunogenicity, easy accessibility, and low‐cost, may be favorable for cartilage regeneration. In our study, the effect of PRP on engineered cartilage constructed by MSCs and collagen hydrogel in vitro and in vivo was investigated and compared with TGF‐β1. The results showed that PRP promoted cell proliferation and gene and protein expressions of chondrogenic markers via the TGF‐β/SMAD signaling pathway. Meanwhile, it suppressed the expression of collagen type I, a marker of fibrocartilage. Furthermore, PRP accelerated cartilage regeneration on defects with engineered cartilage, advantageous over TGF‐β1, as evaluated by histological analysis and immunohistochemical staining. Our work demonstrates that autogenous PRP may substitute TGF‐β1 as a potent and reliable chondrogenic inducer for therapy of cartilage defect.

The Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma to Promote Cell Recruitment into Low-Molecular-Weight Fucoidan-Functionalized Poly(Ester-Urea-Urethane) Scaffolds for Soft-Tissue Engineering

“…For instance, PRP can stimulate dermal fibroblast migration and proliferation, showing its potential in wound treatment and skin rejuvenation [15]. Therefore, the incorporation of PRP in scaffolds is an advantageous approach, because it represents a simple, efficient and cost-effective method, allowing the immobilization of a number of highly-concentrated bioactive factors, creating an optimized micro-environment, and impacting upon tissue regeneration [10,16,17,18,19]. Various approaches have been developed to immobilize growth factors inside the scaffolds, and these may be envisioned for immobilizing PRP, such as physical encapsulation, absorption onto the biomaterial surface, layer-by-layer self-assembly, covalent conjunctions and extracellular matrix-based binding approaches [20].…”

TGF-β1 level in platelet-rich plasma in patients with diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system

“…TGF-β1 enhances cartilage cell proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis [24]. It also contributes to the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro [23,28]. TGF-β1 promotes the proliferation of tendon fibroblasts and their synthesis of extracellular matrix, in particular collagen type I, etc.…”

Phase II Multicenter Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial on the Efficacy of Intra-articular Injection of Autologous Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Platelet Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

“…Preclinical studies showed that PRP could be used as a potent and reliable chondrogenic inducer as a substitute for TGF-β1. Some of its properties, such as its low immunogenicity, easy accessibility and role as an activator of the mechanism of hyaline cartilage production (related with the TGF-β1/SMAD signaling pathway) de ne the PRP as a potentially attractive coadjuvant [35,36]. Reporting a clinical study with 18 patients, Bastos et al concluded that the use of PRP as co-adjuvant together with 40 million BM-MSCs did not provide additional bene ts over the use of BM-MSCs alone [37].…”