Tissue-Protective and Anti-Inflammatory Landmark of PRP-Treated Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Secretome for Osteoarthritis

Bone-marrow-mesenchymal-stromal-cells (BMSCs)- and platelet-rich-plasma (PRP)-based therapies have shown potential for treating osteoarthritis (OA). Recently, the combination of these two approaches was proposed, with results that overcame those observed with the separate treatments, indicating a possible role of PRP in ameliorating BMSCs’ regenerative properties. Since a molecular fingerprint of BMSCs cultivated in the presence of PRP is missing, the aim of this study was to characterize the secretome in terms of soluble factors and extracellular-vesicle (EV)-embedded miRNAs from the perspective of tissues, pathways, and molecules which frame OA pathology. One hundred and five soluble factors and one hundred eighty-four EV-miRNAs were identified in the PRP-treated BMSCs’ secretome, respectively. Several soluble factors were related to the migration of OA-related immune cells, suggesting the capacity of BMSCs to attract lympho-, mono-, and granulocytes and modulate their inflammatory status. Accordingly, several EV-miRNAs had an immunomodulating role at both the single-factor and cell level, together with the ability to target OA-characterizing extracellular-matrix-degrading enzymes and cartilage destruction pathways. Overall, anti-inflammatory and protective signals far exceeded inflammation and destruction cues for cartilage, macrophages, and T cells. This study demonstrates that BMSCs cultivated in the presence of PRP release therapeutic molecules and give molecular ground for the use of this combined and innovative therapy for OA treatment.