Synergy of tendon stem cells and platelet-rich plasma in tendon healing

Injured rat Achilles tendons were treated with botulism toxin to create a mechanically unloaded condition (unloaded) or left untreated (loaded), and then treated with phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS), platelet‐rich plasma (PRP), tendon stem cells (TSCs), or a combination (TSCs + PRP). mRNA and protein expression of collagen I, collagen III, tenascin C, and Smad 8 were determined by real time PCR and immunostaining, respectively. Loaded tendons treated with PBS, PRP, or TSCs for 3 or 14 days had higher collagen I mRNA expression than unloaded tendons. Loaded tendons treated with PBS for 3 or 14 days or with PRP for 3 days had higher collagen I protein levels than unloaded tendons. Loaded tendons treated for 3 days with PBS, for 14 days with PRP or TSCs or TSCs + PRP for 3 or 14 days had higher collagen III protein levels than unloaded tendons. Collagen I mRNA levels were higher in TSCs + PRP‐treated loaded tendons compared to PBS‐treated loaded tendons on day 3 of treatment. Based on changes in the expression of tendon‐healing genes, our data suggest that the combination of TSCs and PRP has synergistic effects on tendon healing under both loaded and unloaded conditions, and loaded conditions improve tendon healing. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:991–997, 2012