Leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma is superior to leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma in improving muscle healing by promoting angiogenesis

Lin, Li-Ping; Pang, Jong-Hwei Su; Yu, Tung-Yang; Hsu, Chih-Chin; Liao, Yu-Cih; Tsai, Wen-Chung

Affiliations

¹Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Taoyuan, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

²Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

³Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

⁴Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung, Keelung City, Taiwan

⁵School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

⁶Center of Comprehensive Sports Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Taoyuan, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

Abstract and keywords

Therapies involving platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have been validated in extant research to be efficacious for acute muscle injury treatment. The influence of PRP leukocyte concentration on muscle regeneration under acute muscle injury conditions is uncertain. We executed our current research with the purpose of probing the influence exerted by leukocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP) treatment and that exerted by leukocyte-rich PRP (LR-PRP) treatment on muscle regeneration. A rat model of muscle injury was adopted. Treatment involved local LR-PRP, LP-PRP, or normal saline injection at 1 day after muscle injury. At 7, 14, and 21 days post-injury, muscle regeneration was evaluated. Specifically, to evaluate such regeneration, histological sections underwent immunofluorescence staining, and muscle contractile properties were assessed. Angiogenesis was detected through a tube formation assay as well as through immunofluorescence staining that was executed for both CD31 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. LR-PRP was noted to increase centronucleated myofiber quantity and myofiber size to a greater extent when contrasted against LP-PRP. In addition, in injured muscles, LR-PRP was determined to enhance fast-twitch strength recovery and tetanic strength recovery. Both PRP variants promoted In Vitro and In Vivo angiogenesis, with LR-PRP promoting angiogenesis to a significantly greater extent. LR-PRP improves muscle regeneration by promoting angiogenesis.

Keywords: angiogenesis; leukocyte; muscle healing; platelet-rich plasma

Links

DOI: 10.1002/jor.70001

PubMed: 40511775

WoS: 001507615100001

History

Received: 2024-11-08

Revised: 2025-04-16

Accepted: 2025-06-02

Cited Works (1)

Year	Entry
2024	Chen L-S, Chen C-K, Pang J-HS, Lin L-P, Yu T-Y, Tsai W-C. Leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma and leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma promote myoblast proliferation through the upregulation of cyclin a, cdk1, and cdk2. J Orthop Res. January 2024;42(1):32-42.