Exosomes derived from platelet-rich plasma promote the re-epithelization of chronic cutaneous wounds

Chronic wounds have become an economic, social, and public health burden and need advanced treatment. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been used extensively in treatment of chronic wounds because it contains an abundance of growth factors secreted by platelets. The exosomes derived from PRP (PRP-Exos) have been proven to encapsulate principal growth factors from platelets.

This study is the first to show that these exosomes may exert the function of PRP. PRP-Exos can effectively induce proliferation and migration of endothelial cells and fibroblasts to improve angiogenesis and re-epithelialization in chronic wounds. Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University regulated YAP to verify the PRP-Exos-dependent effect on fibroblast proliferation and migration through YAP activation. In vivo, they observed the cutaneous healing process in chronic wounds treated with PRP-Exos in a diabetic rat model. The researchers provide evidence of the probable molecular mechanisms underlying the PRP effect on healing of chronic ulcers and describe a promising resource of growth factors from exosomes without species restriction.

Characterization of PRP-Exosomes

(A) Particle size distribution measured by DLS. (B) Morphology observed by TEM. (C) Western blotting and quantitative analysis of the exosome surface markers and cargo. Scale bar: 100 nm. *P < 0.05 compared with PRP-AS.