Effect of Exogenous Growth Factors on Ligament Healing

在这个为期两年的研究项目的第一年，我们使用免疫组织化学技术评估了兔内侧副韧带（MCL）愈合过程中生长因子的时空表达。在此基础上，我们进一步研究外源性生长因子对韧带愈合过程的影响。首先，我们尝试碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）促进韧带愈合。采用已建立的兔MCL延迟愈合模型，以纤维蛋白胶为载体给药bFGF。因此，外源性bFGF在一定程度上促进了MCL的愈合，但剂量是关键，过量的bFGF可能会产生不利影响。研究结果发表在《Rhumatisme Revue》英文版上。作为我们项目的下一步，我们研究了bFGF和TGF-beta1联合给药的效果。然而，由于结果不乐观，这项研究在其初步步骤中停止了。随后，我们研究了生长分化因子-5 （GDF-5）对大鼠韧带愈合的影响。该因子是tgf - β超家族的成员，据报道可促进韧带样组织的异位形成。根据我们的研究结果，基于宏观、组织学、生物力学和生化评估，该因子促进韧带愈合。这项研究现在已经进行了一半，将在几个月内完成。

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.