Platelet-rich plasma interferes with changes in articular cartilage and synovium of rabbits with knee osteoarthritis / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that platelet-rich plasma has a strong role in promoting chondrocyte repair and proliferation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in chondrocyte repair and synovial inflammation inhibition in osteoarthritis. METHODS: The blood samples were extracted from the central artery of the ear in 40 New Zealand white rabbits and platelet-rich plasma was prepared by the method of Hokugo. The platelet, platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-3, vascular endothelial growth factor in the peripheral blood and platelet-rich plasma were detected simultaneously. Animal models were made by resection of anterior cruciate ligament and divided into experimental group and control group. In the experimental group, 0.3 mL of platelet-rich plasma was injected once a week for 10 weeks; in the control group, 0.3 mL of sterile saline was injected once a week for 10 weeks. Gross observation and histological observation of knee joints were performed; articular cartilage type II collagen and matrix metalloproteinase 13 levels were measured; and Mankin score of the cartilage tissue was performed at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks after injection. The study protocol was approved by the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of Chongqing Medical University. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The concentrations of platelet, platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-3, vascular endothelial growth factor in platelet-rich plasma were 5.5, 4.8, 7.7, and 6.2 times those of the peripheral blood, respectively. And there were significant differences between the platelet-rich plasma and peripheral blood (P<0.05). (2) From the 6th week, the Mankin score of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). (3) The expression of type II collagen protein in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group at the 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th weeks after injection (P<0.05). The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-13 was significantly lower than that in the control group at the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th week (P<0.05). All these findings indicate that intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma can inhibit the development of osteoarthritis by alleviating synovial inflammation and delaying or blocking the damage of chondrocytes.