Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2024, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (7): 985-992.doi: 10.12307/2024.109

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Combination of 1% platelet-rich plasma and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells improves the recovery of peripheral nerve injury

Feng Ruiqin1, 2, 3, Han Na1, 2, 3, Zhang Meng1, 2, 3, Gu Xinyi1, 2, 3, Zhang Fengshi1, 2, 3   

  1. 1Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China; 2Key Laboratory of Trauma and Neural Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100044, China; 3National Center for Trauma Medicine, Beijing 101100, China
  • Received:2023-02-01 Accepted:2023-03-09 Online:2024-03-08 Published:2023-07-15
  • Contact: Han Na, MD, Researcher, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China; Key Laboratory of Trauma and Neural Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100044, China; National Center for Trauma Medicine, Beijing 101100, China
  • About author:Feng Ruiqin, Master candidate, Physician, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China; Key Laboratory of Trauma and Neural Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100044, China; National Center for Trauma Medicine, Beijing 101100, China
  • Supported by:
    Natural Science Foundation of Beijing, No. 7222198 (to HN)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma has been shown to enhance the viability and the pro-angiogenesis capacity of mesenchymal stem cells. Extracellular vesicles are one of the key mediators for mesenchymal stem cells to exert their effects, but currently, it is unclear whether platelet-rich plasma affects the functions of extracellular vesicles.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of platelet-rich plasma on the function of extracellular vesicles from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, verify whether platelet-rich plasma can be used as an adjuvant to enhance the healing effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on repairing the peripheral nerve injury.
METHODS: For in vitro study, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cultured under normal conditions and with 1% platelet-rich plasma. The ultracentrifugation was used to extract the extracellular vesicles produced by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells cultured under normal conditions (EVs-nor) or the condition supplemented with 1% platelet-rich plasma (EVs-prp). Extracellular vesicles were used to incubate with Schwann cells. The EdU assay, western blot assay, qPCR and light microscopy photography were performed to examine the effects of EVs-nor and EVs-prp on Schwann cell reprogramming, which was characterized by cell proliferation, c-Jun expression, reprogramming-associated gene expression and cell morphology. For in vivo study, the model of sciatic nerve injury in rats was established. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were grafted with or without 1% platelet-rich plasma into the injured rat sciatic nerve using a chitin nerve conduit. Eight weeks after the surgery, the recovery was assessed by histological and functional indexes, including regenerated nerve fiber density, gastrocnemius wet weight ratio and sciatic function index.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with EVs-nor, EVs-prp was stronger in promoting Schwann cell proliferation. The gene expressions of c-Jun and GDNF were significantly upregulated in EVs-prp treated Schwann cells. The morphology of Schwann cells was significantly longer in EVs-prp group than that in EVs-nor group, indicating that EVs-prp had a stronger ability to stimulate Schwann cell reprogramming than EVs-nor. (2) Sciatic nerve injury animal experiment results revealed that grafting mesenchymal stem cells along with platelet-rich plasma into the injured sciatic nerve showed the best recovery compared with grafting mesenchymal stem cells or platelet-rich plasma alone, demonstrated by the significantly improved density of nerve fibers, gastrocnemius wet weight ratio, and sciatic function index. (3) These results suggested that platelet-rich plasma improved the function of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles and could be served as a practical and feasible preparation to synergize with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to improve peripheral nerve repair.

Key words: platelet-rich plasma, mesenchymal stem cell, extracellular vesicle, peripheral nerve injury, Schwann cell, reprogramming, nerve guide conduit, mesenchymal stem cell transplantation, sciatic nerve injury

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