Autophagy Is Independent of the Chondroprotection Induced by Platelet-Rich Plasma Releasate

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been shown to be a promising therapeutic agent against osteoarthritis (OA), whereas its chondroprotection mechanism is not fully elucidated. Autophagy is considered an important biological process throughout the development of OA. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to investigate the role of autophagy in the chondroprotection and compare the effects of releasate between L-PRP and P-PRP. METHODS: PRP were prepared from rat blood. Rat chondrocytes pretreated in the presence or absence of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) were incubated with PRP releasate. The expressions of OA-related genes and autophagy-related genes were determined by RT-PCR and western blot, respectively. Autophagic bodies were assessed by transmission electron microscopy and the autophagy flux was monitored under the confocal microscopy. The effect of PRP on autophagy was further investigated in the milieu of autophagy activator, rapamycin, or autophagy inhibition by downregulation of Atg5. The effect of PRP on cartilage repair and autophagy was also evaluated in an OA rat model. RESULTS: In vitro, PRP releasate increased the expression of the anabolic genes, COL2 and Aggrecan, and decreased the expression of the catabolic genes, whereas the expression of autophage markers, Atg5 and Beclin-1, as well as the ratio of LC3 II/LC3 I, was not significantly altered in normal or IL-1β-treated chondrocytes. Similar expression pattern was found following the activation (rapamycin) or inhibition (Atg5 silencing) of autophagy. In vivo, PRP releasate ameliorated posttraumatic cartilage degeneration while the expression of LC3 was comparable to that in the vehicle treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: PRP releasate promoted the anabolic gene expression, relieved inflammatory stress in chondrocytes, and ameliorated cartilage degeneration, but autophagy was independent of these processes.