| 1. |
- Notermans, Thomas, et al.
(författare)
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Tendon mechanobiology in small animal experiments during post-transection healing
- 2021
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Ingår i: European Cells and Materials. - Switzerland : AO Research Institute Davos. - 1473-2262. ; 42, s. 375-391
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ruptures to tendons are common and costly, and no clinical consensus exists on the appropriate treatment and rehabilitation regimen to promote their healing as well as full recovery of functionality. Although mechanobiology is known to play an important role in tendon regeneration, the understanding of how mechano-regulated processes affect tendon healing needs further clarification. Many small-animal studies, particularly in rats and mice, have characterized the progression of healing in terms of geometrical, structural, compositional, mechanical, and cellular properties. Some of the properties are also studied under different mechanical loading regimens. The focus of this review is to summarize and generalize the information in the literature regarding spatial and temporal differentiation of tendon properties during rodent tendon healing following full-tendon transection, as well as how this is affected by altered in vivo loading regimens.
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| 2. |
- Andersson, Therese, et al.
(författare)
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Low-level mechanical stimulation is sufficient to improve tendon healing in rats
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of applied physiology. - : American Physiological Society. - 8750-7587 .- 1522-1601. ; 113:9, s. 1398-1402
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Treatment of tendon injuries often involves immobilization. However, immobilization might not prevent mild involuntary isometric muscle contraction. The effect of weak forces on tendon healing is therefore of clinical interest. Studies of tendon healing with various methods for load reduction in rat Achilles tendon models show a consistent reduction in tendon strength by at least half, compared with voluntary cage activity. Unloading was not complete in any of these models, and the healing tendon was therefore still exposed to mild mechanical stimulation. By reducing the forces acting on the tendon even further, we now studied the effects of this mild stimulation. Rat Achilles tendons were transected and allowed to heal spontaneously under four different loading conditions: 1) normal cage activity; 2) calf muscle paralysis induced by botulinum toxin A (Botox); 3) tail suspension; 4) Botox and tail suspension, combined, to eliminate even mild stimulation. Healing was evaluated by mechanical testing after 8 days. Botox alone and suspension alone both reduced tendon callus size (transverse area), thereby impairing its strength compared with normal cage activity. The combination of Botox and suspension did not further reduce tendon callus size but drastically impaired the material properties of the tendon callus compared with each treatment alone. The peak force was only a fifth of that in the normal cage activity group. The results indicate that also the mild loading that occurs with either Botox or suspension alone stimulates tendon healing. This stimulation appears to affect mainly tissue quality, whereas stronger stimulation also increases callus size.
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| 3. |
- Blomgran, Parmis, et al.
(författare)
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Role of Macrophages During early Achilles Tendon Healing
- 2021
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Ingår i: MLTJ-MUSCLES LIGAMENTS AND TENDONS JOURNAL. - : EDRA SPA. - 2240-4554. ; 11:1, s. 15-21
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background. Macrophages are a heterogeneous cell population that plays an important role in the initiation of the inflammatory response to trauma as well as its resolution during healing. However, their role during Achilles tendon healing is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate if macrophage reduction by using clodronate liposome inject ion would influence the mechanical properties of the healing tendon. Methods. The right Achilles tendon of 46 rats were transected and left to heal spontaneously (day 0). The reduction of macrophages during the inflammatory phase of tendon healing was studied by injecting clodronate liposomes day - 3, - 1 and 1. To study the early remodeling phase, clodronate was injected day 3, 5 and 7. The controls received saline and the rats were evaluated by mechanical testing day 7 and 12, respectively. Results. Clodronate injections during the inflammatory phase increased transverse area (p = 0.006) and stiffness (p = 0.044) day 7. In contrast, no significant effects were seen at day 12. Flow cytometry evaluation confirmed reduction of mature and polarized macrophages. Conclusions. Reduction of macrophages during the inflammatory phase of Achilles tendon healing influenced the mechanical properties, suggesting a regulatory role of macrophages during this phase.
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| 4. |
- Blomgran, Parmis, et al.
(författare)
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Systemic corticosteroids improve tendon healing when given after the early inflammatory phase
- 2017
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2045-2322. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Inflammation initiates tendon healing and then normally resolves more or less completely. Unresolved inflammation might disturb the remodeling process. We hypothesized that suppression of inflammation during the early remodeling phase by systemic dexamethasone treatment can improve healing. 36 rats underwent Achilles tendon transection and were randomized to dexamethasone or saline on days 0-4 after surgery (early inflammatory phase), and euthanasia day 7. Another 54 rats received injections days 5-9 (early remodeling phase) and were euthanized day 12 for mechanical, histological and flow cytometric evaluation. Dexamethasone treatment days 0-4 reduced the cross-sectional area, peak force and stiffness by day 7 to less than half (p amp;lt; 0.001 for all), while material properties (peak stress and elastic modulus) were not significantly affected. In contrast, dexamethasone treatment days 5-9 increased peak force by 39% (p = 0.002) and stiffness by 58% (p amp;lt; 0.001). The cross-sectional area was reduced by 42% (p amp;lt; 0.001). Peak stress and elastic modulus were more than doubled (p amp;lt; 0.001 for both). Semi-quantitative histology at day 12 showed that late dexamethasone treatment improved collagen alignment, and flow cytometry revealed reduced numbers of CD8a(+) cytotoxic T cells in the tendon callus. These results suggest that downregulation of lingering inflammation during the early remodeling phase can improve healing.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Dietrich, Franciele, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of platelet-rich plasma on rat Achilles tendon healing is related to microbiota
- 2017
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Ingår i: Acta Orthopaedica. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 1745-3674 .- 1745-3682. ; 88:4, s. 416-421
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and purpose - In 3 papers in Acta Orthopaedica 10 years ago, we described that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) improves tendon healing in a rat Achilles transection model. Later, we found that microtrauma has similar effects, probably acting via inflammation. This raised the suspicion that the effect ascribed to growth factors within PRP could instead be due to unspecific influences on inflammation. While testing this hypothesis, we noted that the effect seemed to be related to the microbiota. Material and methods - We tried to reproduce our old findings with local injection of PRP 6h after tendon transection, followed by mechanical testing after 11 days. This failed. After fruitless variations in PRP production protocols, leukocyte concentration, and physical activity, we finally tried rats carrying potentially pathogenic bacteria. In all, 242 rats were used. Results - In 4 consecutive experiments on pathogen-free rats, no effect of PRP on healing was found. In contrast, apparently healthy rats carrying Staphylococcus aureus showed increased strength of the healing tendon after PRP treatment. These rats had higher levels of cytotoxic T-cells in their spleens. Interpretation - The failure to reproduce older experiments in clean rats was striking, and the difference in response between these and Staphylococcus-carrying rats suggests that the PRP effect is dependent on the immune status. PRP functions may be more complex than just the release of growth factors. Extrapolation from our previous findings with PRP to the situation in humans therefore becomes even more uncertain.1
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| 7. |
- Dietrich, Franciele, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of storage and preconditioning of healing rat Achilles tendon on structural and mechanical properties
- 2021
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Tendon tissue storage and preconditioning are often used in biomechanical experiments and whether this generates alterations in tissue properties is essential to know. The effect of storage and preconditioning on dense connective tissues, like tendons, is fairly understood. However, healing tendons are unlike and contain a loose connective tissue. Therefore, we investigated if storage of healing tendons in the fridge or freezer changed the mechanical properties compared to fresh tendons, using a pull-to-failure or a creep test. Tissue morphology and cell viability were also evaluated. Additionally, two preconditioning levels were tested. Rats underwent Achilles tendon transection and were euthanized 12 days postoperatively. Statistical analyzes were done with one-way ANOVA or Student’s t-test. Tissue force and stress were unaltered by storage and preconditioning compared to fresh samples, while high preconditioning increased the stiffness and modulus (p ≤ 0.007). Furthermore, both storage conditions did not modify the viscoelastic properties of the healing tendon, but altered transverse area, gap length, and water content. Cell viability was reduced after freezing. In conclusion, preconditioning on healing tissues can introduce mechanical data bias when having extensive tissue strength diversity. Storage can be used before biomechanical testing if structural properties are measured on the day of testing.
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| 8. |
- Dietrich, Franciele, et al.
(författare)
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Response to mechanical loading in rat Achilles tendon healing is influenced by the microbiome
- 2020
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE. - 1932-6203. ; 15:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have previously shown that changes in the microbiome influence how the healing tendon responds to different treatments. The aim of this study was to investigate if changes in the microbiome influence the response to mechanical loading during tendon healing. 90 Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Specific Opportunist and Pathogen Free (SOPF) rats were co-housed with Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) rats, carrying Staphylococcus aureus and other opportunistic microbes. After 6 weeks of co-housing, the SOPF rats were contaminated which was confirmed by Staphylococcus aureus growth. Clean SOPF rats were used as controls. The rats were randomized to full loading or partial unloading by Botox injections in their calf muscles followed by complete Achilles tendon transection. Eight days later, the healing tendons were tested mechanically. The results were analysed by a 2-way ANOVA with interaction between loading and contamination on peak force as the primary outcome and there was an interaction for both peak force (p = 0.049) and stiffness (p = 0.033). Furthermore, partial unloading had a profound effect on most outcome variables. In conclusion, the response to mechanical loading during tendon healing is influenced by changes in the microbiome. Studies aiming for clinical relevance should therefore consider the microbiome of laboratory animals.
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| 9. |
- Dietrich-Zagonel, Franciele, et al.
(författare)
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Stimulation of Tendon Healing With Delayed Dexamethasone Treatment Is Modified by the Microbiome
- 2018
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Ingår i: American Journal of Sports Medicine. - : Sage Publications. - 0363-5465 .- 1552-3365. ; 46:13, s. 3281-3287
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background:The immune system reflects the microbiome (microbiota). Modulation of the immune system during early tendon remodeling by dexamethasone treatment can improve rat Achilles tendon healing. The authors tested whether changes in the microbiota could influence the effect of dexamethasone treatment.Hypothesis:A change in microbiome would influence the response to dexamethasone on regenerate remodeling, specifically tendon material properties (peak stress).Study Design:Controlled laboratory study.Methods:Specific opportunist and pathogen-free female rats were housed separately (n = 41) or together with specific pathogen-free rats carrying opportunistic microbes such as Staphylococcus aureus (n = 41). After 6 weeks, all co-housed rats appeared healthy but now carried S aureus. Changes in the gut bacterial flora were tested by API and RapID biochemical tests. All rats (clean and contaminated) underwent Achilles tendon transection under aseptic conditions. Flow cytometry was performed 8 days postoperatively on tendon tissue. Sixty rats received subcutaneous dexamethasone or saline injections on days 5 through 9 after transection. The tendons were tested mechanically on day 12. The predetermined primary outcome was the interaction between contamination and dexamethasone regarding peak stress, tested by 2-way analysis of variance.Results:Dexamethasone increased peak stress in all groups but more in contaminated rats (105%) than in clean rats (53%) (interaction, P = .018). A similar interaction was found for an estimate of elastic modulus (P = .021). Furthermore, dexamethasone treatment reduced transverse area but had small effects on peak force and stiffness. In rats treated with saline only, contamination reduced peak stress by 16% (P = .04) and elastic modulus by 35% (P = .004). Contamination led to changes in the gut bacterial flora and higher levels of T cells (CD3+CD4+) in the healing tendon (P < .05).Conclusion:Changes in the microbiome influence tendon healing and enhance the positive effects of dexamethasone treatment during the early remodeling phase of tendon healing.Clinical Relevance:The positive effect of dexamethasone on early tendon remodeling in rats is strikingly strong. If similar effects could be shown in humans, immune modulation by a few days of systemic corticosteroids, or more specific compounds, could open new approaches to rehabilitation after tendon injury.
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| 10. |
- Eliasson, Pernilla, et al.
(författare)
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Primary gene response to mechanical loading in healing rat Achilles tendons
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of applied physiology. - : American Physiological Society. - 8750-7587 .- 1522-1601. ; 114:11, s. 1519-1526
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Loading can stimulate tendon healing. In healing rat Achilles tendons, we have found more than 150 genes upregulated or downregulated 3 h after one loading episode. We hypothesized that these changes were preceded by a smaller number of regulatory genes and thus performed a microarray 15 min after a short loading episode, to capture the primary response to loading. We transected the Achilles tendon of 54 rats and allowed them to heal. The hind limbs were unloaded by tail-suspension during the entire experiment, except during the loading episode. The healing tendon tissue was analyzed by mechanical testing, microarray, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Mechanical testing showed that 5 min of loading each day for 4 days created stronger tissue. The microarray analysis after one loading episode identified 15 regulated genes. Ten genes were analyzed in a repeat experiment with new rats using qRT-PCR. This confirmed the increased expression of four genes: early growth response 2 (Egr2), c-Fos, FosB, and regulation of G protein signaling 1 (Rgs1). The other genes were unaltered. We also analyzed the expression of early growth response 1 (Egr1), which is often coregulated with c-Fos or Egr2, and found that this was also increased after loading. Egr1, Egr2, c-Fos, and FosB are transcription factors that can be triggered by numerous stimuli. However, Egr1 and Egr2 are necessary for normal tendon development, and can induce ectopic expression of tendon markers. The five regulated genes appear to constitute a general activation machinery. The further development of gene regulation might depend on the tissue context.
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