Platelet-Derived Growth Factor as Biomarker of Clinical Outcome for Autologous Platelet Concentrate Therapy in Grade I Knee Osteoarthritis

Michele Francesco Di Tolla,1,* Serena Romano,1,* Pietro Vassetti,2 Domenico Perugini,2 Immacolata Filoso,2 Serena Cabaro,1 Giusy Ferraro,1 Francesco Oriente,1 Giuseppe Perruolo,1 Flora Arvonio,3 Vittoria D’Esposito,4 Pietro Formisano1 1Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy; 2Pain Therapy HUB, Local Health Unit Napoli 2 Nord “San Giuliano” Hospital, Giugliano in Campania, Italy; 3NGmed srl, Naples, Italy; 4URT “Genomic of Diabetes”, Institute of Endotypes in Oncology, Metabolism and Immunology “G. Salvatore” – National Research Council (IEOMI-CNR), Naples, Italy*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Pietro Formisano, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy, Email [email protected]: Autologous platelet concentrates (APC) are widely used in the infiltrative treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) to enhance tissue healing and relieve pain. Aim of this study was to identify predictive biomarkers for clinical outcomes in patients with grade I knee OA.Methods: A panel of growth factors (GFs) and cytokines was determined in peripheral blood (PB) and APC. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) was used as a clinical readout before and after the APC infiltration.Results: A lower white blood cell (WBC) count and higher Monocyte-chemoattractant Protein-1 levels in PB were associated with APC-induced pain relief. Platelet-derived Growth Factor (PDGF) levels in APC were significantly higher in OA patients displaying a larger NPRS reduction, independent of platelet count. Finally, the simultaneous determination of PDGF, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, and Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1α in APC discriminated OA patients with very poor or no response.Conclusion: Platelet-released GFs rather than platelet counts may predict clinical outcomes in grade 1 knee OA.Keywords: growth factors, cytokines, regenerative medicine, inflammation, pain relief