The effect of combinations of growth factors on ligament healing.
Platelet-derived growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor Type 1 have demonstrated chemotactic and mitogenic properties in vitro that could benefit healing ligaments. These growth factors also have demonstrated in vivo effects when used in skin wound-healing models. In a previous study, bFGF and IGF-1, used alone, failed to improve healing. The authors wished to test the hypothesis that platelet-derived growth factor alone or combinations of platelet-derived growth factor plus insulin-like growth factor Type 1, platelet-derived growth factor plus basic fibroblast growth factor, or basic fibroblast growth factor plus insulin-like growth factor Type 1 would increase the healing efficiency of ligaments because of their effects on different parts of the cell replication cycle and their abilities to induce chemotaxis. Ligaments receiving platelet-derived growth factor alone were 73% +/- 55% stronger than their contralateral internal controls (p < 0.0025). Stiffness increased 94% +/- 63% over controls (p < 0.0025), and breaking energy was 101% +/- 104% > controls (p < 0.1). Ligaments treated with a combination of platelet-derived growth factor plus insulin-like growth factor Type 1 and platelet-derived growth factor plus basic fibroblast growth factor also had increases in rupture force, stiffness, and breaking energy over internal controls. Ligaments treated with a combination of basic fibroblast growth factor plus insulin-like growth factor Type 1 also appeared to have some improved healing; the results, however, did not prove to be statistically significant. Synergistic effects of growth factor combinations were not evident.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
A K
AK
Letson
L E
LE
Dahners
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017888:Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000601:surgery*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012421:Rupture; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D006133:Growth Substances; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I