PRP and Cotton-Like β-TCP/PLGA Fibers Enhance Bone Repair in Osteoporotic Vertebral Defects via Macrophage Modulation in Rats

• Published in: Acta histochemica et cytochemica Vol. 58; no. 3; pp. 123 - 132
• Main Authors: Shimizu, Yuichi, Nagae, Masateru, Tonomura, Hitoshi, Ishibashi, Hidenobu, Takeura, Nobuaki, Morita, Takahiro, Sakata, Munehiro, Yamada, Shunji, Tanaka, Masaki, Takahashi, Kenji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan JAPAN SOCIETY OF HISTOCHEMISTRY AND CYTOCHEMISTRY 24.06.2025
• Subjects: Regular; bone regeneration; macrophage; osteoporotic vertebral fracture; cotton-like β-TCP/PLGA fiber; platelet-rich plasma
• ISSN: 0044-5991; 1347-5800
• DOI: 10.1267/ahc.24-00066

This study assessed the effectiveness of a combination of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and β-tricalcium phosphate/polylactic-co-glycolic acid (β-TCP/PLGA) fibers in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral defects in rats. Seventy-two female Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to ovariectomy to induce osteoporosis were divided into three groups to receive different treatments for critical bone defects created in the lumbar vertebrae. The PRP group received β-TCP/PLGA fibers infused with PRP, the control group received no material, and the other group received the same fibers infused with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Over a period of 12 weeks, bone regeneration, macrophage differentiation, and inflammatory responses were evaluated histologically. Compared to the PBS group, the PRP-treated group demonstrated significantly enhanced early stage bone formation, increased expression of osteogenic markers, and a favorable shift in macrophage activity from the M1 inflammatory phenotype to the M2 healing phenotype. These outcomes suggest that the combination of PRP and β-TCP/PLGA fibers not only effectively promotes bone repair under osteoporotic conditions but also modulates the immune response to facilitate better healing, indicating its potential as a beneficial surgical intervention for osteoporotic vertebral fractures.