RESUMEN
The availability of a large number of chondrocytes is important for cartilage tissue engineering. Chondrocytes have been shown to be sensitive to the proliferative action of a wide variety of growth factors. Many of these growth factors have been isolated from platelets. In this study, we tested whether human platelet supernatants, as a supplement to basic medium, would support the proliferative and secretary activity of rabbit auricular chondrocytes in low- density monolayer culture. In 5% serum supplemented cultures, uptake of [H]-thymidine was increased in platelet supernatant-treated chondrocytes by 1.9-2.5 fold at 72 hours compared with controls. In serum free cultures, the ability of platelet supernatants to promote proliferative activity was decreased compared with serum supplemented cultures. In 5% serum supplemented cultures, glycosaminoglycan synthesis was increased in platelet supernatant-treated chondrocytes at 96 hours compared with controls. In serum supplemented cultures, seeding efficiency was increased in platelet supernatant-treated cultures by more than 3-fold compared with controls. These results indicate that platelet supernatant promotes proliferation and matrix synthesis of rabbit auricular chondrocytes. Platelet supernatants may be useful as a cheap autologous source of multiple growth factors to increase in vitro expansion of chondrocytes.