Standardized Human Platelet Lysates as Adequate Substitute to Fetal Calf Serum in Endothelial Cell Culture for Tissue Engineering

Fetal calf serum (FCS) is used for in vitro cell culture, as it provides the cells with various growth-promoting compounds. For applications in humans, FCS does not meet the required safety standards and should be replaced by an appropriate substitute. This study analyzed the suitability of using human platelet lysate (hPL) as a substitute for FCS in endothelial cell cultures for in vitro and in vivo tissue engineering applications. The focus was placed on standardized, commercially available hPLs (MultiPL’30, MultiPL’100), which are approved for applications in humans, and compared to laboratory-prepared hPLs (lp-hLP). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured with FCS or with different hPLs. Cell morphology, proliferation, viability, apoptosis, and necrosis, as well as the organization of vascular structures, were assessed. No morphological changes were noticed when FCS was replaced by standardized hPLs in concentrations of 1-10%. In contrast, the use of lp-hLPs led to irregular cell shape and increased vacuolization of the cytoplasm. HUVEC proliferation and viability were not compromised by using media supplemented with standardized hPLs or pl-hPLs in concentrations of 1-10%, compared to cells grown in media supplemented with 20% FCS. The apoptosis rate using lp-hPLs was higher compared to the use of standardized hPLs. The necrosis rate tended to be lower when FCS was replaced by hPLs. HUVEC formed more pronounced capillary-like structures when the media were supplemented with hPLs instead of supplementation with FCS. Thus, compared to the use of FCS, the use of hPLs was beneficial for the growth and optimal expression of functional endothelial cell characteristics during in vitro experiments. Commercially available hPLs proved to be particularly suitable, as they led to reproducible results during in vitro experiments, while meeting the safety requirements for in vivo use.