Effect of secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor on early tendon-to-bone healing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in a rat model

[摘要] AimsTo verify whether secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) can promote early tendon-to-bone healing after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.MethodsIn vitro: the mobility of the rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) treated with SLPI was evaluated by scratch assay. Then the expression levels of osteogenic differentiation-related genes were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) to determine the osteogenic effect of SLPI on BMSCs. In vivo: a rat model of ACL reconstruction was used to verify the effect of SLPI on tendon-to-bone healing. All the animals of the SLPI group and the negative control (NC) group were euthanized for histological evaluation, micro-CT scanning, and biomechanical testing.ResultsSLPI improved the migration ability of BMSCs and upregulated the expression of genes related to osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in vitro. In vivo, the SLPI group had higher histological scores at the tendon-bone interface by histological evaluation. Micro-CT showed more new bone formation and bone ingrowth around the grafted tendon in the SLPI group. Evaluation of the healing strength of the tendon-bone connection showed that the SLPI group had a higher maximum failure force and stiffness.ConclusionSLPI can effectively promote early tendon-to-bone healing after ACL reconstruction via enhancing the migration and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

[学科分类] 骨科学

[关键词] Secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor;Tendon-bone healing;Osteogenic differentiation;Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction;tendon-to-bone healing;anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction;leucocyte;rat model;tendon;BMSCs;Biomechanical testing;mesenchymal stem cells;bone formation;stiffness