Autologous tenocyte therapy for experimental Achilles tendinopathy in a rabbit model.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon is a chronic degenerative condition that frequently does not respond to treatment. In the current study, we propose that autologous tenocytes therapy (ATT) is effective in treating tendon degeneration in a collagenase-induced rabbit Achilles tendinopathy model.

METHODS:

Chronic tendinopathy was created in the left Achilles tendon of 44 rabbits by an intratendonous injection of type I collagenase. Forty-two rabbits were randomly allocated into three groups of 14 and received control treatment; autologous tenocytes digested from tendon tissue; and autologous tenocytes digested from epitendineum tissue. For cell tracking in vivo, the remaining two animals were injected with autologous tenocytes labeled with a nano-scale super-paramagnetic iron oxide (Feridex). Rabbits were sacrificed at 4 and 8 weeks after the therapeutic injection, and tendon tissue was analyzed by histology, immunostaining, and biomechanical testing to evaluate tissue repair.

RESULTS:

Autologous tenocyte treatment improved tendon remodeling, histological outcomes, collagen content, and tensile strength of tendinopathic Achilles tendons. Injected tenocytes were integrated into tendon matrix and could be tracked up to 8 weeks in vivo. Immunohistochemistry showed that ATT improved type I collagen expression in repaired tendon but did not affect type III collagen and secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine expression.

CONCLUSION:

ATT may be a useful treatment of chronic Achilles tendinopathy.

• Authors: Jimin Chen, Qian Yu, Bing Wu, Zhen Lin, Nathan J Pavlos, Jiake Xu, Hongwei Ouyang, Allan Wang, Ming H Zheng
• Journal: Tissue engineering. Part A (Tissue Eng Part A) Vol. 17 Issue 15-16 Pg. 2037-48 (Aug 2011) ISSN: 1937-335X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21495863 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Collagen Type I
• Dextrans
• Magnetite Nanoparticles
• Osteonectin
• ferumoxides

Topics

• Achilles Tendon (pathology, transplantation)
• Animals
• Biomechanical Phenomena
• Cell Survival
• Collagen Type I (metabolism)
• Dextrans (metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Extracellular Matrix (metabolism)
• Magnetite Nanoparticles
• Osteonectin (metabolism)
• Pilot Projects
• Rabbits
• Tendinopathy (pathology, therapy)
• Transplantation, Autologous
• Wound Healing