Objectives. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is being used increasingly often in the clinical setting to treat tendon-related pathologies. Yet the optimal PRP preparations to promote tendon healing in different patient populations are poorly defined. Here, we sought to determine whether increasing the concentration of platelet-derived proteins within a derivative of PRP, platelet lysate (PL), enhances tenocyte proliferation and migration in vitro, and whether the mitogenic properties of PL change with donor age. Methods. Concentrated PLs from both young (< 50 years) and aged (> 50 years) donors were prepared by exposing pooled PRP to a series of freeze-thaw cycles followed by dilution in plasma, and the levels of several platelet-derived proteins were measured using multiplex immunoassay technology. Human tenocytes were cultured with PLs to simulate a clinically relevant PRP treatment range, and cell growth and migration were assessed using DNA quantitation and gap closure assays, respectively. Results. Platelet-derived protein levels increased alongside higher PL concentrations, and PLs from both age groups improved tenocyte proliferation relative to control conditions. However, PLs from aged donors yielded a dose-response relationship in tenocyte behaviour, with higher PL concentrations resulting in increased tenocyte proliferation and migration. Conversely, no significant differences in tenocyte behaviour were detected when increasing the concentration of PLs from younger donors. Conclusion. Higher PL concentrations, when prepared from the PRP of aged but not young donors, were more effective than lower PL concentrations at promoting tenocyte proliferation and migration in vitro. Cite this article: D. R. Berger, C. J. Centeno, N. J. Steinmetz. Platelet lysates from aged donors promote human tenocyte proliferation and migration in a concentration-dependent manner. Bone Joint Res 2019;8:32–40. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.81.BJR-2018-0164.R1

Tendon injuries constitute a major healthcare burden owing to the limited healing ability of these tissues and the poor clinical outcomes of surgical repair treatments. Recent advances in tendon tissue engineering (TTE) strategies, particularly through the use of biotextile technologies, hold great promise toward the generation of artificial living tendon constructs. We have previously developed a braided construct based on suture threads coated with gelMA:alginate hydrogel encapsulating human tendon cells. These cell-laden composite fibers enabled the replication of cell and tissue-level properties simultaneously. Based on this concept, in this study we explored the use of platelet lysate (PL), a pool of supra-physiological concentrations of growth factors (GFs), to generate a hydrogel layer, which is envisioned to act as a depot of therapeutic factors to induce tenogenic differentiation of encapsulated human adipose stem cells (hASCs). For this purpose, commercially available suture threads were first embedded in a thrombin solution and then incubated in PL containing hASCs. Herein, thrombin induces the gelation of PL and consequent hydrogel formation. After coating suture threads with the mixture of PL-ASCs, cells were found to be viable and homogeneously distributed along the fibers. Strikingly, hASCs encapsulated within the PL hydrogel layer around the suture thread were able to sense chemotactic factors present in PL and to establish connections between adjacent independent fibers, suggesting a tremendous potential of PL cell-laden hydrogel fibers as building blocks in the development of living constructs aimed at tendon repair applications

Objectives. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) are a promising strategy for orthopaedic applications, particularly in bone repair. Ex vivo expansion of ADMSCs is required to obtain sufficient cell numbers. Xenogenic supplements should be avoided in order to minimise the risk of infections and immunological reactions. Human platelet lysate and human plasma may be an excellent material source for ADMSC expansion. In the present study, use of blood products after their recommended transfusion date to prepare human platelet lysate (HPL) and human plasma (Hplasma) was evaluated for in vitro culture expansion and osteogenesis of ADMSCs. Methods. Human ADMSCs were cultured in medium supplemented with HPL, Hplasma and a combination of HPL and Hplasma (HPL+Hplasma). Characteristics of these ADMSCs, including osteogenesis, were evaluated in comparison with those cultured in fetal bovine serum (FBS). Results. HPL and HPL+Hplasma had a significantly greater growth-promoting effect than FBS, while Hplasma exhibited a similar growth-promoting effect to that of FBS. ADMSCs cultured in HPL and/or Hplasma generated more colony-forming unit fibroblasts (CFU-F) than those cultured in FBS. After long-term culture, ADMSCs cultured in HPL and/or Hplasma showed reduced cellular senescence, retained typical cell phenotypes, and retained differentiation capacities into osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. Conclusion. HPL and Hplasma prepared from blood products after their recommended transfusion date can be used as an alternative and effective source for large-scale ex vivo expansion of ADMSCs. Cite this article: J. Phetfong, T. Tawonsawatruk, K. Seenprachawong, A. Srisarin, C. Isarankura-Na-Ayudhya, A. Supokawej. Re-using blood products as an alternative supplement in the optimisation of clinical-grade adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell culture. Bone Joint Res 2017;6:414–422. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.67.BJR-2016-0342.R1

Aims. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoparticles secreted by all cells, enriched in proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids related to cell-to-cell communication and vital components of cell-based therapies. Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-derived EVs have been studied as an alternative for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. However, their clinical translation is hindered by industrial and regulatory challenges. In contrast, platelet-derived EVs might reach clinics faster since platelet concentrates, such as platelet lysates (PL), are already used in therapeutics. Hence, we aimed to test the therapeutic potential of PL-derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs) as a new treatment for OA, which is a degenerative joint disease of articular cartilage and does not have any curative or regenerative treatment, by comparing its effects to those of human umbilical cord MSC-derived EVs (cEVs) on an ex vivo OA-induced model using human cartilage explants. Methods. pEVs and cEVs were isolated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and physically characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), protein content, and purity. OA conditions were induced in human cartilage explants (10 ng/ml oncostatin M and 2 ng/ml tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)) and treated with 1 × 10. 9. particles of pEVs or cEVs for 14 days. Then, DNA, glycosaminoglycans (GAG), and collagen content were quantified, and a histological study was performed. EV uptake was monitored using PKH26 labelled EVs. Results. Significantly higher content of DNA and collagen was observed for the pEV-treated group compared to control and cEV groups. No differences were found in GAG quantification nor in EVs uptake within any treated group. Conclusion. In conclusion, pEVs showed better performance than cEVs in our in vitro OA model. Although further studies are needed, pEVs are shown as a potential alternative to cEVs for cell-free regenerative medicine. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(10):667–676

Aims. Platelet concentrates, like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet lysate (PL), are widely used in regenerative medicine, especially in bone regeneration. However, the lack of standard procedures and controls leads to high variability in the obtained results, limiting their regular clinical use. Here, we propose the use of platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) as an off-the-shelf alternative for PRP and PL for bone regeneration. In this article, we evaluate the effect of PL-derived EVs on the biocompatibility and differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Methods. EVs were obtained first by ultracentrifugation (UC) and then by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) from non-activated PL. EVs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and the expression of CD9 and CD63 markers by western blot. The effect of the obtained EVs on osteoinduction was evaluated in vitro on human umbilical cord MSCs by messenger RNA (mRNA) expression analysis of bone markers, alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), and calcium (Ca. 2+. ) content. Results. Osteogenic differentiation of MSCs was confirmed when treated with UC-isolated EVs. In order to disprove that the effect was due to co-isolated proteins, EVs were isolated by SEC. Purer EVs were obtained and proved to maintain the differentiation effect on MSCs and showed a dose-dependent response. Conclusion. PL-derived EVs present an osteogenic capability comparable to PL treatments, emerging as an alternative able to overcome PL and PRP limitations. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2020;9(10):667–674

Macrophages (Mφ) are immune cells that play a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immunity as they are involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. Depending on the microenvironment and signals present, Mφ can polarize into either M1 or M2 phenotypes, with M1 macrophages exhibiting pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects, while M2 macrophages having immunosuppressive and tissue repair properties. Macrophages have been shown to play key roles in the development and progression or inhibition of various diseases, including cancer. For example, macrophages can stimulate tumor progression by promoting immunosuppression, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. This work aimed to investigate the effect of extracellular vesicles (EVs)-derived from polarized macrophages on an osteosarcoma cell line. Monocytes were extracted from buffy coats and cultured in RPMI medium with platelet lysate or M-CSF. After 6 days of seeding, Mφ were differentiated into M1 and M2 with INF-γ/LPS and IL-4/IL-13, respectively. The medium with M1 or M2 derived EVs was collected and EVs were isolated by differential centrifugation and size exclusion chromatography and its morphology and size were characterized with SEM and NTA, respectively. The presence of typical EVs markers (CD9, CD63) was assessed by Western Blot. Finally, EVs from M1 or M2-polarized Mφ were added onto osteosarcoma cell cultures and their effect on cell viability and cell cycle, proliferation, and gene expression was assessed. The EVs showed the typical shape, size and surface markers of EVs. Overall, we observed that osteosarcoma cells responded differentially to EVs isolated from the M1 and M2-polarized Mφ. In summary, the use of Mφ-derived EVs for the treatment of osteosarcoma and other cancers deserves further study as it could benefit from interesting traits of EVs such as low immunogenicity, nontoxicity, and ability to pass through tissue barriers. Acknowledgements: Carlos III Health Institute and the European Social Fund for contract CP21/00136 and project PI22/01686

Tendon injuries are common and current therapies often are unsuccessful. Cell-based therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seems to be the most promising approach to heal tendon. Moreover, providing safe and regulated cell therapy products to patients requires adherence to good manufacturing practices (GMP). Adipose-derived stem cells (n=4) were cultured in 6-well plates coated with type-I collagen in a chemically defined serum-free medium (SF) or a xenogenic-free human pooled platelet lysate medium (hPL). At passage 4, ASCs were induced to tendon lineage for 14 days using 100ng/ml CTGF, 10ng/ml TGFβ3, 50ng/ml BMP12 and 50µg/ml ascorbic acid in the SF (SF-TENO) or in the hPL (hPL-TENO) medium. Cells cultured without any supplements are used as control. Morphological appearance, cell viability and FACS were performed in undifferentiated cells to evaluate the xenogenic-free culture conditions; the gene and protein expression were performed by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence to evaluate to expression of stem cell- and tendon-related markers upon cell differentiation. SF-CTRL and hPL-CTRL showed similar viability and MSC's surface proteins and expressed the stemness markers NANOG, OCT4 and Ki67. Moreover, both SF-TENO and hPL-TENO expressed significant higher levels of SCX, COL1A1, COL3A1, COMP, MMP3 and MMP13 genes already at 3d (p<0.05) respect to CTRLs. Scleraxis and collagen were also detected in both SF-TENO and hPL-TENO at protein level in higher amount than CTRLs. In conclusion, ASCs exposed to CTGF, BMP12, TGFb3 and AA in both serum and xenogenic-free media possess similar tenogenic differentiation ability moving forward the GMP-compliant approaches for the clinical use of ASCs

Angiogenesis is a key factor in early stages of wound healing and is crucial for tissue regeneration. Gold standard for large bone defect treatment is the transplantation of autologous bone grafts, but is not entirely satisfying (e.g. limited amount). Cell therapies and tissue engineering approaches may overcome these problems by using cells and autologous blood components obtainable by less invasive procedures. Pre-clinical studies previously showed promising results combining endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) in polyurethane scaffolds in presence of PRP (1). A systemic investigation of the chemical and mechanical characteristics of different PRP gels formulations suggested their potential use as sustained autologous growth factor delivery system (2). Here we investigate PRP hydrogels as autologous injectable cell delivery systems for EPCs and MSCs and their efficacy in promoting fast neo-vascularization for bone repair applications. PRP hydrogel and corresponding platelet lysate (PL) were produced from platelet concentrates as described before (3). MSCs were isolated by Ficoll-Paque centrifugation from human bone marrow (EK_regensburg12-101-0127), and cultured in alpha MEM containing 10% FCS and 5 ng/mL basic-FGF (GIBCO). EPCs (CD133+/CD34+) were isolated from MSC fractions using magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS®) and further cultured in IMDM (GIBCO) containing 5% FCS and 5% PL. GFP positive HUVECs are from Angio-Proteomie, (Boston, USA). Prior to gel encapsulation, MSC and EPCs were pre-stained using PKH26-red® and PKH67-green® respectively. Cells in different proportions were encapsulated in 3D PRP gels, in FDA approved Fibrin gels and in Matrigel®. The gels were cultured in Ibidi microwells placed in an onstage incubator linked to an EVOS Auto Cell Imaging System. The cellular network formation capacity of HUVEC or EPCs and MSC in different proportions was analyzed for the 3 types of hydrogels using time lapse movies recorded over a period of 14 days. Parallel cultures were performed in a classical cell culture CO. 2. incubator and sample gels were taken at different time points for additional immunostaining and gene expression analysis. Preliminary results indicate high cell viability in all of the three tested gels. PRP hydrogels present a favorable environment for the formation of a 3 dimensional cellular network in cell co-culture. The formation of these networks was apparent as early as 4 days after seeding. Networks increase in complexity and branching over time. The same was observed when cells were embedded in Matrigel®, which is known for its pro-angiogenic properties. Further experiments are currently in process looking at the involvement of MSCs in this process and the effect of PRP 3D co-culture on their differentiation. PRP was previously shown as a potent growth factor delivery system for tissue engineering. In the present work, the high cell viability together with the 3 dimensional capillary-like networks observed at early time points suggest that PRP can also be used as an autologous cell delivery and pro-angiogenic system for bone tissue repair

Aims

Ageing-related incompetence becomes a major hurdle for the clinical translation of adult stem cells in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). This study aims to investigate the effect of stepwise preconditioning on cellular behaviours in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) from ageing patients, and to verify their therapeutic effect in an OA animal model.

Aims

Bone demonstrates good healing capacity, with a variety of strategies being utilized to enhance this healing. One potential strategy that has been suggested is the use of stem cells to accelerate healing.