Autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) has an established history of clinical use in dental and orthopaedic procedures. However, there is little scientific data demonstrating a mode of action and conflicting clinical data to support its use. The aim of this study was to determine the cellular and metabolic pathways by which PRP modulates the osteogenic response. PRP is a concentrate of platelets in a small volume of plasma derived from whole blood. Platelets contain pre-packaged growth factors in & #61537;-granules that are released during clotting at the trauma site and are an essential requirement for the hard (bone) and soft tissue healing process.

S& N’s Caption ™ device, a standalone disposable device that prepares autologous PRP in 15minutes, was used to prepare human PRP. We determined a platelet concentration factor of 3.4& #61617;1.2 fold and significant increases in the concentration of platelet derived growth factor–AB (PDGF-AB), transforming growth factor-& #61538; (TGF-& #61538;) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). A 5.9 fold increase in VEGF, 4 fold increase in TGF-& #61538; and 1.5 fold increase in PDGF-AB indicate that PRP has the potential to enhance bone repair as each of these growth factors individually and synergistically affect multiple cell responses essential for tissue repair.

An in vitro study was then undertaken to investigate the effect of human PRP compared to human serum on the proliferation and differentiation of human primary osteoblasts (hOBs) and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). A significant proliferative effect of PRP compared to serum was observed in both cell types. In hMSCs, PRP treatment significantly increased proliferation after 24 hours as determined by Pico green analysis. However, in osteoblasts a proliferative effect of PRP over and above that of serum was not observed until 72 hours. These data indicate that PRP may have specific differing stimulatory effects on each cell type. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis also determined that PRP significantly increased the expression of BMP 2 over and above that of serum in human osteoblasts at both 6 and 12 hour time points. Furthermore, in hMSCs, PRP increased both BMP-2 and alkaline phosphatase gene expression at early time points suggesting the commitment of these cells to the osteoblastic lineage. This hypothesis was consistent with alkaline phosphatase protein expression which was significantly increased at 72hrs in hMSCs and was further confirmed by increased alizarin red staining, indicative of calcium deposition, in long term cultures of hMCSs treated with PRP.

In summary, these data demonstrate that PRP initiates proliferation in hMSCs and osteoblasts, enhances BMP-2 mRNA expression and induces osteoblast differentiation and maturation in human MSC cultures. Together these data demonstrate a positive effect of PRP on osteogenesis and highlight the potential for Caption™ derived PRP to enhance bone repair.