Effects of chitosan on cell proliferation and collagen production of tendon sheath fibroblasts, epitenon tenocytes, and endotenon tenocytes.
OBJECTIVE
To study the proliferation and collagen production of tendon sheath fibroblasts, epitenon tenocytes, and endotenon tenocytes; and the effects of chitosan on cell proliferation and collagen production in the 3 cell types of rabbit flexor tendon.


METHODS
Three cell lines of tendon sheath, epitenon, and endotenon were isolated from rabbit flexor tendon and cultured. Cell culture media was added with chitosan. The cell number and production of collagens I, II, and III were measured and compared with those cultured without chitosan. The expression of type I collagen in tendon sheath fibroblasts was determined by quantitative analysis of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
All 3 cell lines produced collagens I, II, and III. Adding chitosan to cell media resulted in a significant decrease in cell number in all 3 cell lines. In addition, there was a significant decrease in collagens I, II, and III production in all 3 cell lines as well as the expression levels of type I collagen in tendon sheath fibroblasts (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Chitosan can inhibit cell proliferation and collagen production of the tendon sheath, epitenon, and endotenon, and may provide a promising approach to obviating tendon adhesion formation clinically.
Xia
Chang-Suo
CS
Department of Hand Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Hong
Guang-Xiang
GX
Dou
Rong-Rong
RR
Yang
Xuan-Ying
XY