Platelet-rich plasma plays an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and cell proliferation-promoting role in an in vitro model for diabetic infected wounds

Abstract

Aim

This study was designed to examine the potential mechanism underlying these roles of platelet-rich plasma in treating diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).

Methods

Staphylococcus aureus and HaCaT were co-cultured under high glucose conditions to serve as an in vitro model for infected cells in DFUs. Platelet-rich gel (PRG) or extract liquid of platelet-rich gel (EPG) were used to interfere with the model to observe the growth of HaCaT cells and S. aureus, and the effect of miR-21 changes in HaCaT cells on PDCD4, NF-κB activity and related inflammatory factors.

Results

Incubation of HaCaT cells with S. aureus promoted the decline of cell proliferation. Under this condition, the level of PDCD4 and the activity of NF-κB were increased in HaCaT cells with concomitant increased of IL-6, TNF-α and decreased IL-10, TGF-β1 in cultured supernatant. Both of PRG and EPG exhibited specific anti-S. aureus activity where they protect HaCaT cells from bacterial damage and promote cell proliferation. Meanwhile, EPG was observed to increase intracellular miRNA-21 while reduce PDCD4 expression and inhibit NF-κB activity to suppress the inflammation in HaCaT cells.

Conclusion

This in vitro model provides a valuable tool for study of wound healing in the treatment of DFUs. Our results suggest that miRNA-21 may regulate the expression of NF-κB through PDCD4 where it plays an anti-inflammatory role and promote proliferation in infected DFUs treated by PRP. These findings could provide novel therapeutic targets for refractory wounds.

Keywords:

• platelet-rich plasma
• antibacterial
• anti-inflammatory
• cell proliferation-promoting
• diabetic infected wound

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81500596).

The abstract of this paper was presented at the “54th EASD Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes” as an oral presentation.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.