title: The effects of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF-Endoret) on healing of medial collateral ligament of the knee.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been increasingly used in sports-related injuries for therapeutic applications. However, there are numerous manufacturing procedures and treatment protocols of PRP use, which make difficult to assess its real efficacy for tissue healing. This study addressed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of locally delivered plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF-Endoret) on the early healing of medial collateral ligament (MCL) in rabbit knees.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one Japanese white rabbits were subjected to a mop-end tear in the MCL of the left knee. PRGF-Endoret was prepared using Anitua's technique. Two groups were set up. In 17 knees, prepared 1.0 ml of PRGF-Endoret after clotting was applied on the tear site, while in 14 knees the tear site was untreated serving as a control. Quantitative aspects of PRGF-Endoret, the concentration of platelets, leukocytes and erythrocytes and therapeutic growth factors such as PDGF-BB and TGF-β1 were measured. Rabbits were sacrificed at 3 and 6 weeks after the operation and histological and biomechanical evaluation were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No leukocytes were measured and certain amount of growth factors such as PDGF-BB and TGF-β1 were confirmed in the PRGF-Endoret. PRGF-Endoret stimulated proliferation of fibroblasts and neovascularization, and induced statistically better structural properties in repaired MCL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings provide evidence that local administration of PRGF-Endoret promotes early steps in ligament healing and the repair of structural properties in a rabbit model. PRGF-Endoret would be a useful product in clinical treatment of ligament injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Control of Musculoskeletal System, Advanced Biomedical Applications, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan. tymd99@gmail.com
authors.forename: Tomokazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanamori
authors.forename: Toshikatsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Washio
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aoto
authors.forename: Kenta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakane
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ochiai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000077214:Becaplermin; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017888:Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee / Q000098:blood supply / Q000293:injuries*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry*; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D012421:Rupture; D013264:Stifle / Q000293:injuries; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000032:analysis; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000077214:Becaplermin