Platelet-rich plasma effects on in vitro cells derived from pediatric patients with andrological diseases

Undescended testis and testicular torsion represent two frequent andrological diseases that affect the pediatric age. Despite these testicular disorders having different causes, they both negatively influence fertility in adulthood mainly due to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which represents the primary molecular damage underlying their long-term effects. The gold standard of treatment for both pathologies is surgery; however, it cannot guarantee an optimal fertility outcome in all clinical cases, underscoring the need to identify effective adjuvant therapies that may target the augmented ROS levels. For this aim, we investigated the pro-proliferative and anti-oxidant effects of PRP (platelet-rich plasma), a hemoderivative product used in regenerative medicine. We confirmed the increased oxidative status in testicular tissue by directly analyzing patients' biopsies with mass spectrometry and highlighting that three antioxidant proteins are significantly overexpressed compared to healthy testicles. Afterward, we in vitro treated cells derived from patients with cryptorchidism or testicular torsion with PRP, showing that it consistently decreases ROS levels and slightly induces cell proliferation. This study supports the potential use of PRP in patients with testis torsion or cryptorchidism, encouraging its future clinical application as adjuvant therapy to preserve the functionality of this organ by decreasing its ROS levels.