title: Effects of rapamycin on reduction of peridural fibrosis: an experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peridural fibrosis (PF) is a normal complication after lumbar surgery. It is a challenge for both surgeons and patients. Rapamycin (RPM), a novel antibiotic with anti-proliferative and immunosuppressive properties, has been shown to be effective in preventing uncontrolled scar proliferation diseases. The object of the present research was to investigate the effects of RPM on inhibiting PF in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro, the fibroblasts collected and isolated from the rat tail skin were cultured with/without RPM and cell counting was performed. In vivo, the double-blinded study was conducted in 60 healthy Wistar rats divided randomly into 3 groups: 1) RPM treatment group; 2) Vehicle treatment group; 3) Control group. Rats underwent a L1-L2 level laminectomy with a satisfactory anesthetization. Four weeks post-operatively, the Rydell score, histological analysis, hydroxyproline content, vimentin expressional level, and inflammatory cytokines expressional levels were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro, RPM showed ability to prevent fibroblast proliferation. In vivo, the laminectomy was well tolerated by all rats, which were killed 4 weeks post-operatively. The Rydell score, histological evaluation, hydroxyproline content, vimentin expression level, and inflammatory activity showed the positive effect of RPM in preventing peridural adhesion, inhibiting fibrotic formation and collagen synthesis, and down-regulating inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present primary study, RPM showed good efficacy in preventing the proliferation of fibroblasts. RPM can prevent rat peridural adhesion through inhibiting collagen synthesis, fibroblasts proliferation, and inflammatory activity.
authors: Department of Orthopedic Trauma and Hand Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China (mainland).
authors: Like
authors: L
authors: Luo
authors: Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China (mainland).
authors: Chifei
authors: C
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Orthopedic Trauma and Hand Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China (mainland).
authors: Jinmin
authors: J
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Orthopedic Trauma and Hand Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China (mainland).
authors: Qingjun
authors: Q
authors: Wei
authors: Department of Orthopedic Trauma and Hand Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China (mainland).
authors: Xiaofeng
authors: X
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D007796:Laminectomy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D014746:Vimentin; D006909:Hydroxyproline; D020123:Sirolimus