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Frontiers in veterinary science2017; 4; 205; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00205

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Increases Growth Factor Release from Equine Platelet-Rich Plasma In Vitro.

Abstract: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are common treatments for soft tissue injuries in horses. Shockwave triggers cell specific responses to promote healing. Growth factors released from PRP also promote healing. It has been hypothesized that greater growth factor release would amplify the healing process. The combination of ESWT and PRP could promote healing in injured tendons and ligaments in the horse. The objective of this study was to determine if application of shockwaves to PRP samples increases the concentration of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and platelet-derived growth factor ββ (PDGF-ββ) released from the platelets in vitro. Methods: PRP was produced from blood drawn from six horses. The PRP from each horse was exposed to the following treatments: (1) positive control (freeze-thaw cycle), (2) untreated negative control, or shockwaves with either (3) a "standard probe" (ESWT-S) with a 2 cm focal width and medium energy density or (4) a "power probe" (ESWT-P) with a 1 cm focal width and high energy density. After each treatment, the samples were centrifuged, and the supernatant was harvested. The supernatant was then used for growth factor quantification via commercially available ELISA kits for TGF-β1 and PDGF-ββ. Results: Concentrations of TGF-β1 and PDGF-ββ in PRP that underwent a freeze-thaw cycle were significantly increased compared with all other treatments. Both ESWT-S and ESWT-P resulted in significantly increased TGF-β1 concentrations, 46 and 33%, respectively, when compared with the negative control. Both ESWT-S and ESWT-P resulted in significantly increased PDGF-ββ concentrations, 219 and 190%, respectively, when compared with the negative control. Conclusions: These data indicate that the application of ESWT to PRP increases the expression of growth factors in vitro. This suggests that the combination therapy of local PRP injection followed by ESWT may stimulate release of growth factors from platelets after they have been injected into the area of injury. Conclusions: The combination of PRP and ESWT might result in synergism of two modalities previously utilized individually for tendon and ligament injuries in horses.
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Publication Date: 2017-12-07 PubMed ID: 29270410PubMed Central: PMC5726030DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00205Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research explores how extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), could improve the healing of soft tissue injuries in horses by increasing the release of growth factors.

Research Objective

  • The aim of this study was to discover if ESWT can increase the release of growth factors from PRP, which could potentially improve the healing process. The specific growth factors examined were transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and platelet-derived growth factor ββ (PDGF-ββ).

Methods

  • The researchers created PRP from blood drawn from six horses.
  • Four different treatments were applied to the PRP: a positive control (freeze-thaw cycle), a negative control (no treatment), shockwaves with a “standard probe” (lower energy), and shockwaves with a “power probe” (higher energy).
  • After each treatment, the PRP samples were centrifuged and the liquid part (supernatant) was collected for analysis.
  • The researchers used ELISA kits to quantify the amount of TGF-β and PDGF-ββ in the supernatant.

Results

  • The freeze-thaw cycle (positive control) significantly increased the concentration of both growth factors compared to the other treatments.
  • The ESWT treatments also significantly increased the concentrations of the growth factors compared to the negative control. The standard probe increased TGF-β by 46% and PDGF-ββ by 219%. Similarly, the power probe increased TGF-β by 33% and PDGF-ββ by 190%.

Conclusions

  • The study demonstrated that the application of ESWT to PRP increases the release of growth factors, which underpins its therapeutic potential for healing soft tissue injuries in horses.
  • The researchers suggest that a combination therapy of injecting PRP into the injury site, followed by ESWT, may stimulate the release of growth factors from platelets, thus enhancing healing.
  • The combination of PRP and ESWT, both used individually for such injuries before, might show a synergistic effect in promoting healing in horses’ tendons and ligaments.

Cite This Article

APA
Seabaugh KA, Thoresen M, Giguère S. (2017). Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Increases Growth Factor Release from Equine Platelet-Rich Plasma In Vitro. Front Vet Sci, 4, 205. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2017.00205

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 4
Pages: 205

Researcher Affiliations

Seabaugh, Kathryn A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States.
Thoresen, Merrilee
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States.
  • Department of Pathobiology & Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, United States.
Giguère, Steeve
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States.

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Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
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