Immunoglobulin G in Platelet-Derived Wound Healing Factors

We intended to reformulate an existing platelet-derived wound healing formula to target each phase of the healing wound with the appropriate phase-specific molecules. A decreased perfusion of the skin, often associated with conditions such as thalassemia, sickle cell disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic vascular disease, is the most common etiology of cutaneous ulcers and chronic wounds. We had previously shown that a PDWHF topically applied to a chronic nonhealing ulcer of a beta-thalassemia homozygote stimulated and accelerated closure of the wound. The PDWHF was prepared from a pooled platelet concentrate of a matching blood group, consisting of a combination of platelet alpha-granule-derived factors. Processing of the apheresis-pooled platelets yielded various amounts of proteins (3.36 g/mL +/- 0.25 (SD) (N=10)) by the better lysis buffer method. Immunoglobulin G was found to be the most abundant alpha-granule-secreted protein. Equally broad quantities of the IgG (10.76 +/- 12.66% (SD) (N=10)) and IgG/albumin ratios (0.6 +/- 0.4 (SD) (N=10)) were quantified. We have developed a method using a reformulated lysis buffer followed by size exclusion chromatography and affinity chromatography to extract, identify, quantify, and purify IgG from activated platelets. IgG purification was confirmed by Western blot and flow cytometry. It was thought unlikely that the platelet IgG could be accounted for by adsorption of plasma protein, though the variable quantities could account for diversity in wound healing rates. The IgG could protect the wound even from subclinical infections and functionally advance healing. It may be useful in the management of skin ulcers in the early phase of wound healing.