Temporal and spatial expression of TGF-β1 in an Achilles tendon section model after application of platelet-rich plasma

Lyras, Dimitrios N.; Kazakos, Konstantinos; Tryfonidis, Marios; Agrogiannis, George; Botaitis, Sotirios; Kokka, Anna; Drosos, George; Tilkeridis, Konstantinos; Verettas, Dionysios

doi:10.1016/j.fas.2009.09.002

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Volume 16, Issue 3 , Pages 137-141, September 2010

Temporal and spatial expression of TGF-β1 in an Achilles tendon section model after application of platelet-rich plasma

Dimitrios N. Lyras, Ph.D., D.V.M., M.D.
- Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Dragana, B.O. 84100, Greece
- Corresponding author at: 53 Labrador Quays, Salford Quays, Manchester, M50 3YH, UK. Tel.: +44 1618726044; fax: +30 2551022123.
Konstantinos Kazakos
- Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Dragana, B.O. 84100, Greece
Marios Tryfonidis
- Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Dragana, B.O. 84100, Greece
George Agrogiannis
- Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Pathology, Mikras Asias 75, B.O. 11527, Athens, Greece
Sotirios Botaitis
- Democritus University of Thrace, Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, Dragana, B.O. 84100, Greece
Anna Kokka, M.D.
- Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Pathology, Mikras Asias 75, B.O. 11527, Athens, Greece
George Drosos
- Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Dragana, B.O. 84100, Greece
Konstantinos Tilkeridis
- Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Dragana, B.O. 84100, Greece
Dionysios Verettas
- Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Dragana, B.O. 84100, Greece

Received 7 June 2009; received in revised form 19 September 2009; accepted 29 September 2009. published online 13 November 2009.

Abstract

Background

To investigate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on TGF-β1 expression during tendon healing.

Methods

We used 48 skeletally mature New Zealand White rabbits. 24 rabbits received the PRP, and 24 rabbits served as an untreated control group. Equal numbers of animals were sacrificed at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th week. The surgical procedure involved a transverse incision to transect the Achilles tendon. A volume of 1ml of PRP was then injected into the tendon mass in the PRP group. Histological and immunohistochemical evaluations with an anti-TGF-β primary antibody were performed.

Results

The pattern of expression of TGF-β1 in the PRP group was characterized by a significant upregulation during the first 2 weeks and subsequently significant downregulation in the 3rd and 4th week in comparison with the controls.