title: Therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells to treat Achilles tendon injuries.
abstract: Rupture of the Achilles tendon diminishes quality of life. The gold-standard therapy is a surgical suture, but this presents complications, including wound formation and inflammation. These complications spurred evaluation of the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from adipose tissue. New Zealand rabbits were divided into 6 groups (three treatments with two time points each) evaluated at either 14 or 28 days after surgery: cross section of the Achilles tendon (CSAT); CSAT + Suture; and CSAT + MSC. A comparison between all groups at both time points showed a statistically significant increase in capillaries and in the structural organization of collagen in the healed tendon in the CSAT + Suture and CSAT + MSC groups at the 14-day assessment. Comparison between the two time points within the same group showed a statistically significant decrease in the inflammatory process and an increase in the structural organization of collagen in the CSAT and CSAT + MSC groups. A study of the genomic integrity of the cells suggested a linear correlation between an increase of injuries and culture time. Thus, MSC transplantation is a good alternative for treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures because it may be conducted without surgery and tendon suture and, therefore, has no risk of adverse effects resulting from the surgical wound or inflammation caused by nonabsorbable sutures. Furthermore, this alternative treatment exhibits a better capacity for wound healing and maintaining the original tendon architecture, depending on the arrangement of the collagen fibers, and has important therapeutic potential.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos em Células-Tronco, Terapia Celular e Genética Toxicológica, Núcleo de Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: M H C
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos em Células-Tronco, Terapia Celular e Genética Toxicológica, Núcleo de Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisas de Células-Tronco, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: L P M
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Eça
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisas de Células-Tronco, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: I S O
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos em Células-Tronco, Terapia Celular e Genética Toxicológica, Núcleo de Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hermeto
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos em Células-Tronco, Terapia Celular e Genética Toxicológica, Núcleo de Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matuo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos em Células-Tronco, Terapia Celular e Genética Toxicológica, Núcleo de Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos em Células-Tronco, Terapia Celular e Genética Toxicológica, Núcleo de Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil andreia@corporesanosaude.com.br.
authors.forename: A C M B
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Antoniolli
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D011817:Rabbits; D012421:Rupture / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing