Platelet-rich plasma stimulates osteoblastic differentiation in the presence of BMPs.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is clinically used as an autologous blood product to stimulate bone formation in vivo. In the present study, we examined the effects of PRP on proliferation and osteoblast differentiation in vitro in the presence of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). PRP and its soluble fraction stimulated osteoblastic differentiation of myoblasts and osteoblastic cells in the presence of BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-6 or BMP-7.

Purification and identification of a BMP-like factor from bovine serum.

Myogenic differentiation is suppressed in vitro by unknown factors present in fetal bovine serum (FBS). We found that specific inhibitors of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) stimulated myogenic differentiation even in the presence of 20% FBS, which in turn activated specific BMP signaling. Moreover, these specific BMP inhibitors blocked maturation of osteoblastic cells induced by FBS, indicating that BMP-like factor(s) in serum regulate both myogenic and osteoblastic differentiation.