Concentration-dependent effect of platelet-rich plasma on keratinocyte and fibroblast wound healing.

Background Aims: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been found to contain a high concentration of growth factors that are present during the process of healing. Studies conducted found that application of PRP accelerates wound healing. In this study, we characterized the skin cell suspension harvested using the co-isolation technique and evaluated the effects of PRP (10% and 20%, v/v) on co-cultured keratinocytes and fibroblasts in terms of wound healing.

Methods: Human keratinocytes and fibroblasts were harvested via co-isolation technique and separated via differential trypsinization. These cells were then indirectly co-cultured in medium supplemented with 10% or 20% PRP for 3 days without medium change for analysis of wound-healing potential. The wound-healing potential of keratinocytes and fibroblasts was evaluated in terms of growth property, migratory property, extracellular matrix gene expression and soluble factor secretion.

Results: The co-isolation technique yielded a skin cell population dominated by fibroblasts and keratinocytes, with a small amount of melanocytes. Comparison between the 10% and 20% PRP cultures showed that the 10% PRP culture exhibited higher keratinocyte apparent specific growth rate, and secretion of hepatocyte growth factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, epithelial-derived neutrophil-activating protein 78 and vascular endothelial growth factor A, whereas the 20% PRP culture has significantly higher collagen type 1 and collagen type 3 expressions and produced more granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

Conclusions: PRP concentration modulates keratinocyte and fibroblast wound healing potential, whereby the 10% PRP promotes wound remodeling, whereas the 20% PRP enhances inflammation and collagen deposition.