title: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-111 (VEGF-111) and tendon healing: preliminary results in a rat model of tendon injury.
abstract: Tendon lesions are among the most frequent musculoskeletal pathologies. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to regulate angiogenesis. VEGF-111, a biologically active and proteolysis-resistant splice variant of this family, was recently identified. This study aimed at evaluating whether VEGF-111 could have a therapeutic interest in tendon pathologies. Surgical section of one Achilles tendon of rats was performed before a local injection of either saline or VEGF-111. After 5, 15 and 30 days, the Achilles tendons of 10 rats of both groups were sampled and submitted to a biomechanical tensile test. The force necessary to induce tendon rupture was greater for tendons of the VEGF-111 group (p<0.05) while the section areas of the tendons were similar. The mechanical stress was similar at 5 and 15 days in the both groups but was improved for the VEGF-111 group at day 30 (p <0.001). No difference was observed in the mRNA expression of collagen III, tenomodulin and MMP-9. In conclusion, we observed that a local injection of VEGF-111 improves the early phases of the healing process of rat tendons after a surgical section. Further confirmatory experimentations are needed to consolidate our results.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine Service, Department of Motility Sciences, University and University Hospital of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kaux
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA-R, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lauriane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: Animal Facility of University Hospital of Liège, ULg-GIGA-R, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drion
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA-R, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nusgens
authors.affiliation: Department ARGENCO, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Libertiaux
authors.affiliation: Department ARGENCO, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pascon
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA-R, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heyeres
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA-R, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA-R, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biology, University and University Hospital of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Goff
authors.affiliation: Department ARGENCO, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Denoël
authors.affiliation: CREDEC, Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Olivier
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Defraigne
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rickert
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine Service, Department of Motility Sciences, University and University Hospital of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Crielaard
authors.affiliation: Animal Facility of University Hospital of Liège, ULg-GIGA-R, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colige
keywords: VEGF; VEGF-111; biomechanical; growth factor; healing; tendon