Collagen gene expression in skin wound of horses treated with platelet-rich plasma

摘要

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a product derived from total blood centrifugation, whose use is focused on improving the healing of different tissues, as a result of the growth factors it contains. However, the clinical benefits of this therapy have not been fully established. The objective of this study was to evaluate type I and III collagen gene expression during different phases of the healing process of PRP-treated skin. Eight healthy crossbred geldings, aged 16 and 17 years (16.37 +/- 0.52) were used. Three quadrangular-shaped lesions (6.25cm(2)) were surgically induced in the right and left gluteal regions of all the animals. Twelve hours after induction of the lesions, 0.5mL of PRP was administered in each of the four edges of the wounds (T=treated group) in one of the gluteal regions, randomly chosen. The contralateral region was used as control (NT=non-treated group). The wounds were submitted to daily cleaning with Milli-Q water, and the samples were obtained with a 6mm diameter biopsy Punch. Six skin biopsies were obtained, with the first being performed on the day the lesions were induced (T0), and the others 1 (T1), 2 (T2), 7 (T3), and 14 (T4) days, after the wound was induced. The sixth biopsy (T5) was performed after fully healed of the skin. Evaluation of type I and III collagen gene expression was carried out by the qRT-PCR technique. The data were analyzed by the Bonferroni test, Student t-test, paired t-test, and regression analysis (p<0.05). Difference (p<0.05) between groups were observed for both collagen gene expressions from T1 to T4, being higher in the animals of group T. The peak for type I and III collagen gene expressions occurred in T5 for both groups, but the highest expression was different (p<0.05) from zero time, starting in T3. In the animals of treated group, collagen expression started to establish at T5, while in the horses of NT group, the values remained increased. Local administration of a single PRP dose in cutaneous wound of the gluteal region of horses results in a higher local gene expression of type I and III collagens. However, this expression does not alter the maximum time of macroscopic healing of the wound.