Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the efficacy of Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF-Endoret), an autologous platelet rich plasma technology, on the corneal wound healing process after Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) eye surgery.
Methods: :
Blood from healthy donors was collected, centrifuged and Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF-Endoret) was prepared avoiding the buffy coat. The effects of PRGF-Endoret treatment on the proliferation and migration of human corneal epithelial cells (HCE) was analyzed. PRK was performed on fifty black C57BL/6 mice distributed into two groups: one group was treated with PRGF-Endoret topical drops, and the other group was treated with saline serum. Corneal wound healing evolution was evaluated macroscopically with a surgical microscope and fluorescein staining. Eyes were collected after 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours, and after 7 days from the procedure, and were processed for histological studies. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess cellular proliferation, apoptosis and myofibroblasts transformation in the mouse cornea.
Results: :
Proliferation rate of epithelial cells stimulated with PRGF-Endoret increased significantly when compared with 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-Endoret, while the non-treated control group was only partially closed (35% of total area). Mouse corneas treated with the autologous biological therapy after PRK showed a completely closure of the epithelial wounds significantly before than the control group. Futhermore, a reduction of haze formation was also observed. Histological studies showed a significant increase in the proliferative activity of corneal epithelial cells in PRGF-Endoret-treated group after PRK. The number of SMA-positive cells was significantly lower in the PRGF-Endoret group than in the control group, correlating with the results observed macroscopically.
Conclusions: :
These results suggest that PRGF-Endoret could accelerate corneal epithelial wound healing after PRK and reduce haze formation.
Keywords: wound healing • growth factors/growth factor receptors • cornea: stroma and keratocytes