Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the effects of PRGF on corneal epithelial cell proliferation and wound healing.
Methods: :
Blood from healthy donors was collected, centrifuged and, Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF) was drawn off avoiding the buffy coat. Human corneal epithelial cells (HCE) transfected with SV40 adenivirus were cultured. The proliferation assays was carried out using the cyquant assay after the treatment of cells with PRGF. In order to quantify the wound closure potential of epithelial cells after the treatment of PRGF, cells were plated in culture inserts placed on a 24-well plate at high density. After removing the inserts, cells were treated with PRGF and the wound healing area was photographed each 4 hours until complete closure.
Results: :
Proliferation rate of epithelial cells stimulated with PRGF increased significantly when compared with PRGF non-treated group. Results from the in vitro wound healing study revealed that experimental area of 8.1 mm2 was totally closed by the epithelial cells (100% of the damage area) in 24 hours after treatment with PRGF, while the non-treated control group was only partially closed (35% of total area).
Conclusions: :
These results suggest that PRGF could accelerate corneal epithelial wound healing.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • wound healing • growth factors/growth factor receptors