Upon vessel injury, the platelets form a plug that stabilizes the clot within the fibrin meshwork. Platelets are activated by the thrombin and release their polypeptides content crucial for signaling the immune cells migration. Immune cells and their secreted factors are crucial for the progression of the physiologic response to the injury. The immune cells, their secreted factors, and the hematoma creates, at the site of the wound, an inflammatory microenvironment which in turn brings about the recruitment and migration of local and circulating mesenchymal, endothelial and epidermal cells.
Given the triggering role played by platelets in the tissue healing process, the use of platelet derived compounds has been proposed both as cell culture medium supplements and as therapeutic agents.
The local applications of autologous Platelet Rich Plasma has been proposed to treat chronic or acute, often severe, damages in different organ districts. These include chronic skin ulcers, articular cartilage damage, bone and tendon lesions, peripheral nerve wound, cardiac muscle injury, plastic surgery, and maxillo-facial and oral surgery. PRP has also been used for the treatment of injuries in professional sportspersons. For some of these applications, conflicting results have been reported.
The present topic is calling for original studies and literature reviews aimed at: (i) the understanding of the molecular mechanisms and pathways activated in cells exposed to platelet derived molecules; (ii) the use of platelet lysates and other platelet derived fractions as cell culture medium supplements; (iii) the clinical applications of PRP and other platelet derivatives directly as injectable products or in association with different biomaterials; (iv) the transfer of these technology to the industry.
Upon vessel injury, the platelets form a plug that stabilizes the clot within the fibrin meshwork. Platelets are activated by the thrombin and release their polypeptides content crucial for signaling the immune cells migration. Immune cells and their secreted factors are crucial for the progression of the physiologic response to the injury. The immune cells, their secreted factors, and the hematoma creates, at the site of the wound, an inflammatory microenvironment which in turn brings about the recruitment and migration of local and circulating mesenchymal, endothelial and epidermal cells.
Given the triggering role played by platelets in the tissue healing process, the use of platelet derived compounds has been proposed both as cell culture medium supplements and as therapeutic agents.
The local applications of autologous Platelet Rich Plasma has been proposed to treat chronic or acute, often severe, damages in different organ districts. These include chronic skin ulcers, articular cartilage damage, bone and tendon lesions, peripheral nerve wound, cardiac muscle injury, plastic surgery, and maxillo-facial and oral surgery. PRP has also been used for the treatment of injuries in professional sportspersons. For some of these applications, conflicting results have been reported.
The present topic is calling for original studies and literature reviews aimed at: (i) the understanding of the molecular mechanisms and pathways activated in cells exposed to platelet derived molecules; (ii) the use of platelet lysates and other platelet derived fractions as cell culture medium supplements; (iii) the clinical applications of PRP and other platelet derivatives directly as injectable products or in association with different biomaterials; (iv) the transfer of these technology to the industry.