This study was conducted to investigate the behavior of cultivated human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells when exposed to different concentrations of platelet gel.

Human RPE cells were extracted from donated human whole eyes, treated with dispase, and cultivated in high glucose DMEM plus 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) at 37˚C incubator with 5% CO2. The cultivated cells of 3rd, 5th, and 7th passages were exposed to 10%, 20%, and 30% platelet gel. Platelet gel was composed of a constant amount of thrombin (FIBRI_PREST2-DIAGNOSTIC STAGO) and platelet-rich plasma from a normal blood donor with platelet count of 250 x 103. RPE cells in 20% FBS were considered as control. The growth and survival rate of the cells was assessed by MTT assay on days 1, 3 and 7.

The growth and survival rate of cultivated RPE cells exposed to the different concentrations of platelet gel was significantly higher than the controls on day 7 (p value=0.044). It was comparable with control on day 3 (p value=0.108) and showed a borderline increase on day 1 (p value=0.074) as compared to the control. The increased rate of growth and survival of cultivated RPE cells was not significantly different between different concentrations of platelet gel on days 1, 3 and 7; however, RPE cells demonstrated a significant increase of growth and survival rate with 30% platelet gel as compared to 10% platelet gel on day 7.

It seems that platelet gel as a 3D substrate has a dual positive effect on growth and survival of cultivated human RPE cells. It may be an acceptable substitute for FBS in culture media.