A Comparative Study Between the Therapeutic Role of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Versus Platelet Rich Plasma in Skin Burn Healing in Albino Rats

Background and Objective: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) accelerate wound healing. This study aimed to comparing the therapeutic role of BMSCs & PRP in skin burn healing.
Material and Methods: The study included forty albino rats, five rats were used to supply PRP and five rats were considered as a control group. The other thirty rats were exposed to thermal injury to induce 2^nd degree skin burn then divided into three groups of ten rats each; the skin burned group including rats that received no further treatment, BMSCs-treated group and PRP-treated group. Each group was subdivided into two equal subgroups and examined on days 7 & 21 after the burn. Skin specimens of all groups were handled, processed to be stained with H&E, Masson’s trichrome for histological examination and by VEGF, CD105 for immunohistochemical examination.  
Results: Injection the burned skin with BMSCs or PRP caused re-epithelization of the epidermis, reduction of inflammation, increased collagen fibers deposition and acceleration of angiogenesis. Visible epidermis and dermis regeneration were more evident compared to the burned group. However, the improvement of histological findings was remarkable in the BMSCs-treated group than in PRP treated one. Moreover, the main area percentage of collagen fibers deposition and VEGF immunostaining were significantly increased in the BMSCs treated group in comparison to PRP treated group.
Conclusion: BMSCs displayed better healing effect than PRP as evidenced by collagen fibers deposition and angiogenesis and returning the normal histological structure of the skin.