Open AccessVEGF receptor mRNA expression by ACL fibroblasts is associated with functional healing of the ACL
Author(s) -
Vavken Patrick,
Saad Fawzy A.,
Fleming Braden C.,
Murray Martha M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.806
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1433-7347
pISSN - 0942-2056
DOI - 10.1007/s00167-011-1443-y
Subject(s) - receptor , vascular endothelial growth factor , medicine , endocrinology , kinase insert domain receptor , growth factor , receptor expression , angiogenesis , vascular endothelial growth factor a , andrology , biology , vegf receptors
Purpose Recent advances in the treatment of ACL ruptures employ platelet‐rich plasma combined with collagen to modulate growth factor release from platelets to stimulate healing. Among the most notable of these growth factors is VEGF, which is a potent mitogen and stimulator of vascular growth and healing. However, the effect of such a growth factor on healing depends on the cellular ability to bind with its receptor. The purpose of this study was to test (1) whether the strength of a tissue‐engineered ACL repair is associated with VEGF receptors’ mRNA expression of ACL cells and (2) whether age influences this association. Method Nineteen female Yucatan pigs underwent enhanced ACL repair. Biomechanical testing was performed after 15 weeks of healing. Messenger RNA of VEGF receptors 1 and 2 in ACL fibroblasts was assessed by RT–PCR. The ACL structural properties were regressed on receptor expression levels in a multivariate model including serum levels of VEGF, age, and weight as potential confounders. Result While maximum load and linear stiffness were independent of VEGF receptor expression, VEGF receptor 1 was associated with displacement (positively) and yield load (negatively). In a multivariate model of VEGF receptor expression and biomechanics, age was associated with maximum load and yield load. Conclusion These findings suggest that high VEGF receptor expression, even more so at higher age, results in a more compliant scar, which in turn may lead to greater knee laxity and a compromised clinical result.