Platelet-rich plasma plus human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for cartilage repair

Xu Jing; Wang Li-ming; Zhou Li-dong; Wu Mei; Cui Hui; Zhao Jing; Zeng Du-juan; Zhang Zhong-wen; Liu Ai-bing

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2014.41.013

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Chondrocytes co-cultured with bone marrow stromal stem cells on the scaffold of platelet-rich plasma are found to proliferate, and besides proliferative growth, bone marrow stromal cells exhibit a tendency of differentiating into chondrocytes. OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of platelet-rich plasma and human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) on cartilage repair. METHODS:Forty healthy New Zealand white rabbits were selected to establish models of cartilage defects, and then randomly divided into normal saline group, platelet-rich plasma group, hUCMSCs group and combination group. Platelet-rich plasma was prepared by using double centrifugations to prepare passage 3 hUCMSCs. After modeling, intra-articular injection of normal saline (0.5 mL), 12.5%platelet-rich plasma (0.5 mL), 1×107 hUCMSCs (0.5 mL), 12.5%platelet-rich plasma+1×107 hUCMSCs (total y 0.5 mL) was done in corresponding groups, respectively. After 12 weeks of modeling, the injured cartilage was grossly observed, and hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe cartilage repair under light microscope;according to the O'Driscol histologic standard, histological examination was performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The repair effect in the normal saline group was significantly better that in the platelet-rich plasma group, hUCMSCs group, combination group (P<0.05), while the platelet-rich plasma group and combination group also exhibit better outcomes than the hUCMSCs group (P<0.05). These findings indicate that both platelet-rich plasma and hUCMSCs can promote cartilage repair;moreover, platelet-rich plasma with or without hUCMSCs is superior to hUCMSCs alone in the cartilage repair.