Preparation of pooled human platelet lysate (pHPL) as an efficient supplement for animal serum-free human stem cell cultures.

Platelet derived growth factors have been shown to stimulate cell proliferation efficiently in vivo(1,2) and in vitro. This effect has been reported for mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), fibroblasts and endothelial colony-forming cells with platelets activated by thrombin(3-5) or lysed by freeze/thaw cycles(6-14) before the platelet releasate is added to the cell culture medium. The trophic effect of platelet derived growth factors has already been tested in several trials for tissue engineering and regenerative therapy.(1,15-17) Varying efficiency is considered to be at least in part due to individually divergent concentrations of growth factors(18,19) and a current lack of standardized protocols for platelet preparation.(15,16) This protocol presents a practicable procedure to generate a pool of human platelet lysate (pHPL) derived from routinely produced platelet rich plasma (PRP) of forty to fifty single blood donations. By several freeze/thaw cycles the platelet membranes are damaged and growth factors are efficiently released into the plasma. Finally, the platelet fragments are removed by centrifugation to avoid extensive aggregate formation and deplete potential antigens. The implementation of pHPL into standard culture protocols represents a promising tool for further development of cell therapeutics propagated in an animal protein-free system.