The efficiency of co-application of platelet-rich plasma and bone marrow-derived stem cells in repairing surgically induced articular cartilage defect

Background: Bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) have been applied in the treatment of many diseases including injured articular cartilage. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been used to treat everything from plantar fasciitis to rotator cuff repair. But its effects differ, depending on the musculoskeletal structure and the composition of the PRP itself. The objective of this research was to compare the efficacy of single intra-articular injections of Preconditioned BMSCs with PRP and BMSCs without PRP in the treatment of surgically induced articular cartilage defect in animal model. Methods: 18 adult dogs of both sexes, in good general health condition, weighing between 25-35 kg and aged 3-4 years were used in this study. BMSCs were isolated, cultured and expanded from canine bone marrow aspirate. PRP was collected and activated from canine peripheral blood. BMSCs preconditioned with or without PRP were transplanted into canine with surgical induced articular cartilage defect. Real time PCR was used to quantify transforming growth factor--β (TGF-β), collagen II and aggrecan genes expression in transplanted cartilage defects. Histopathology was performed to assess cartilage regeneration. Results: PRP promoted BMSC differentiation into chondrogenic cells that highly significant expressed (P-value ≤ 0.001) TGF-β, collagen II and aggrecan compared to BMSCs transplantation alone. As a result, PRP-preconditioned BMSCs improved healing of surgical induced articular cartilage defect in canine models compared with that of unconditioned BMSCs. Conclusion: Preconditioning of BMSCs with PRP transplantation is an efficient and important preclinical step toward the use of autologous BMSCs with PRP in the treatment of articular cartilage defects. Glossary of abbreviations: BMSCs: Bone marrow-derived stem cells DMEM: Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium ECM: extra cellular matrix FBS: fetal bovine serum IGF-1:insulin growth factor-1 IL1: interleukin 1 OA: Osteoarthritis PBS: phosphate-buffered saline PRP: Platelet-rich plasma RT–PCR: Real time PCR TGF-β: transforming growth factor TMJ: Temporomandibular joint TMJ –OA: temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis TNFα: tumor necrosis factor α