title: Adipose-derived stem cells enhance primary tendon repair: biomechanical and immunohistochemical evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary tendon repair aims at increased tensile strength at the time of mobilisation. Tendon repair and regeneration using mesenchymal stem cells have been described in different studies; however, adipose-derived stem cell (ASC) use for tendon regeneration and repair has recently been taken into consideration. In this study, we sought to determine whether ASCs would be beneficial in primary tendon healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both the Achilles tendons of rabbits (n = 6) were incised and consequently repaired. To the left side was applied platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel and to the right side autologous ASC-mixed PRP. The tensile strength was measured on the 4th week. The samples were taken for immunohistochemical evaluation of collagen type I, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) 1, 2, 3, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tensile strengths in control and experimental groups were found out to be 29.46 ± 3.66 and 43.06 ± 3.80 kgf. Collagen type I, FGF and VEGF levels were statistically higher, whereas TGF-β1, 2, 3 were lower in the experimental group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ASCs enhance primary tendon healing; however, the complex interaction and the cascades by which ASCs could increase collagen type I, FGF and VEGF and decrease TGF-β levels should further be investigated.
authors: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. cagriuysal@hotmail.com
authors: Cagri A
authors: CA
authors: Uysal
authors: Morikuni
authors: M
authors: Tobita
authors: Hiko
authors: H
authors: Hyakusoku
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Mizuno
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D011817:Rabbits; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors