title: Exogenous bFGF promotes articular cartilage repair via up-regulation of multiple growth factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the roles of exogenous basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the repair of full-thickness articular cartilage defects in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, a double-layered collagen membrane sandwiched with bFGF-loaded-nanoparticles between a dense layer and a loose layer was implanted into full-thickness articular cartilage defects in rabbits. By grafting the membrane in a different direction, the dense layer or the loose layer facing the surface of the subchondral bone, the effects of the released bFGF on the defects and the profiles of nine growth factors (GFs) in synovial fluid (SF) were investigated using histological methods and antibody arrays, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the group with the loose layer facing the surface of the subchondral bone, fast release of bFGF was observed, and early high levels of endogenous transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), bFGF, bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), BMP-3, and BMP-4 in SF were detected by antibody arrays, especially on day 3. Chondrocyte-like cells were also observed in this group at an early stage. As a result, this group showed better levels of repair, as compared to the other groups in which low GF levels were detected at an early stage, and chondrocyte-like cells appeared much later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that exogenous bFGF promotes articular cartilage repair by up-regulating the levels of multiple GFs, but administration at an early stage is required.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Material of Tianjin, Tianjin 300192, PR China. Electronic address: lixuemin-7205@vip.sina.com.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003094:Collagen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053758:Nanoparticles; D011817:Rabbits; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Articular cartilage repair; Basic fibroblast growth factor; Collagen; Double-layered membrane; Spatiotemporal delivery