title: Inhibition of prolyl 4-hydroxylase decreases muscle fibrosis following chronic rotator cuff tear.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rotator cuff tears are among the most frequent upper extremity injuries. Current treatment strategies do not address the poor quality of the muscle and tendon following chronic rotator cuff tears. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) is a transcription factor that activates many genes that are important in skeletal muscle regeneration. HIF-1α is inhibited under normal physiological conditions by the HIF prolyl 4-hydroxylases (PHDs). In this study, we used a pharmacological PHD inhibitor, GSK1120360A, to enhance the activity of HIF-1α following the repair of a chronic cuff tear, and measured muscle fibre contractility, fibrosis, gene expression, and enthesis mechanics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chronic supraspinatus tears were induced in adult rats, and repaired 28 days later. Rats received 0 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, or 10 mg/kg GSK1120360A daily. Collagen content, contractility, fibre type distribution and size, the expression of genes involved in fibrosis, lipid accumulation, atrophy and inflammation, and the mechanical properties of the enthesis were then assessed two weeks following surgical repair.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At two weeks following repair, treatment groups showed increased muscle mass but there was a 15% decrease in force production in the 10 mg/kg group from controls, and no difference between the 0 mg/kg and the 3 mg/kg groups. There was a decrease in the expression of several gene transcripts related to matrix accumulation and fibrosis, and a 50% decrease in collagen content in both treated groups compared with controls. Additionally, the expression of inflammatory genes was reduced in the treated groups compared with controls. Finally, PHD inhibition improved the maximum stress and displacement to failure in repaired tendons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GSK1120360A resulted in improved enthesis mechanics with variable effects on muscle function. PHD inhibition may be beneficial for connective tissue injuries in which muscle atrophy has not occurred.Cite this article: J. P. Gumucio, M. D. Flood, A. Bedi, H. F. Kramer, A. J. Russell, C. L. Mendias. Inhibition of prolyl 4-hydroxylase decreases muscle fibrosis following chronic rotator cuff tear. Bone Joint Res 2017;6:57-65. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.61.BJR-2016-0232.R1.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gumucio
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Flood
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bedi
authors.affiliation: Muscle Metabolism DPU, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Muscle Metabolism DPU, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.affiliation: Muscle Metabolism DPU, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Muscle Metabolism DPU, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA cmendias@umich.edu.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Mendias
keywords: Fibrosis; Myosteatosis; Rotator cuff