Chondrogenic Progenitor Cells Exhibit Superiority Over Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Chondrocytes in Platelet-Rich Plasma Scaffold-Based Cartilage Regeneration

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been considered a promising tool for cartilage regeneration. However, increasing evidence has demonstrated the controversial effects of PRP on tissue regeneration, partially due to the unsatisfactory cell source. Chondrogenic progenitor cells (CPCs) have gained increasing attention as a potential cell source due to their self-renewal and multipotency, especially toward the chondrogenic lineage, and, thus, may be an appropriate alternative for cartilage engineering. To compare the effects of PRP on CPC, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), and chondrocyte proliferation, chondrogenesis, and cartilage regeneration. Controlled laboratory study. Whole blood samples were obtained from 5 human donors to create PRPs (0, 1000 × 109, and 2000 × 109 platelets per liter). The proliferation and chondrogenesis of CPCs, bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs), and chondrocytes were evaluated via growth kinetic and CCK-8 assays. Immunofluorescence, cytochemical staining, and gene expression analyses were performed to assess chondrogenic differentiation and cartilaginous matrix formation. The in vivo effects of CPCs, BMSCs, and chondrocytes on cartilage regeneration after PRP treatment were measured by use of histopathological, ...Continue Reading