Flexor tendon healing in vitro: effects of TGF-beta on tendon cell collagen production.
Flexor tendon healing is complicated by adhesions to the surrounding sheath. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is a cytokine with numerous activities related to wound healing. We examined the effects of TGF-beta-1, -2 and -3 on tendon cell proliferation and collagen production. Three separate cell lines--sheath fibroblasts, epitenon and endotenon tenocytes--were isolated from rabbit flexor tendons and cultured separately. Cell culture media was supplemented with 1 or 5 ng/mL of TGF-beta-1, -2, or -3. Cell number and collagen I and III production were measured and compared with unsupplemented control cultures. The addition of TGF-beta to cell culture media resulted in a decrease in cell number in all 3 lines that did not reach statistical significance. There was a significant increase (p <.05) in collagen I and III production with the addition of all 3 TGF-beta isoforms. Modulation of TGF-beta production may provide a mechanism to modulate adhesion formation clinically.
Division of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Matthew B
MB
Klein
Naveen
N
Yalamanchi
Hung
H
Pham
Michael T
MT
Longaker
James
J
Chang
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011817:Rabbits; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology*; D014945:Wound Healing
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D003094:Collagen