Effect of Exogenous Growth Factors on Ligament Healing

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In the first year of this two-year research project, we evaluated the spatial and temporal expression of the growth factors during the healing process of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in rabbits, using a technique of immunohistochemistry.Based on its results, we further studied the effect of exogenous growth factor on the healing process of ligaments. Firstly, we tried basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to promote ligament healing. Using established model of delayed healing in rabbit's MCL, bFGF was administered using fibrin glue as a vehicle. As the result, exogenous bFGF promoted the healing of MCL to some extent, however, dosage was critical and excessive dose of bFGF might exert unfavorable effects. These results were published in Revue du Rhumatisme English Edition.As the next step of our project, the effect of combined administration of bFGF and TGF-beta1 was studied. This study was, however, discontinued in its preliminary steps because the results were not promising.Subsequently, we investigated the effect of growth and differentiation factor-5 (GDF-5) on ligament healing in rats. This factor is a member of TGF-beta super family, and is reported to promote ectopic formation of ligamet-like tissue. As the results of our study, this factor promotes ligament healing, based on the macroscopic, histological, biomechanical, and biochemical evaluations. This study is on its halfway now and will be completed within several months.