Effects of the cell therapy using adipose-derived stem cells associated with the gdf-5 on the repair process of injured calcaneal tendon of rats

• Grant number: 12/14973-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Cytology and Cell Biology
• Principal Investigator: Edson Rosa Pimentel
• Grantee: Andréa Aparecida de Aro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Tendons are tissues that exhibit high biomechanical strength due to the presence of highly organized collagen fibers, non-collagenous proteins and proteoglycans to form a supramolecular complex structure. Its main function is to transmit forces to the bone generated from the muscle contraction, to promote joint movement. The lesions in tendons often occur during sports, recreational and even daily activities. Nowadays, the increasing incidence of injuries has characterized the tendon lesions as a socioeconomic problem because affect people of all ages. During the tendon repair, there is the formation of scar at the lesion site, becoming a region of high recurrence of rupture that can cause significant dysfunction and disability of joint movement. The cell biology of the repair process in tendons has not been completely understood, and the choice of the best clinical management after an injury, still represents a challenge to medicine. Studies have shown that between different strategies developed aiming at accelerating the process of healing tendon are transplantation of stem cells by manipulating the patient's own cells or by cells from heterologous transplants. Currently, Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (CTTAs) have become the focus of research due to its capacity to differentiate into cells of various tissues, high responsiveness to different stimuli and facility of collection and isolation. However, the capacity of tendinogenic differentiation of CTTAs in vivo associated with the application of the Growth Differentiation Factor-5 (GDF-5) has not been described in the literature. This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in migration and differentiation of CTTAs associated with the use of GDF-5 in the injured area of the calcaneal tendon of rats and to characterize the potential therapeutic effects of this association in repair of tendon injuries. This knowledge may contribute to the development of new therapies for the treatment of tendons injuries.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FRAUZ, KATLEEN; TEODORO, LUIS FELIPE R.; CARNEIRO, GIANE DANIELA; DA VEIGA, FERNANDA CRISTINA; FERRUCCI, DANILO LOPES; BOMBEIRO, ANDRE LUIS; SIMOES, PRISCYLA WALESKA; ALVARES, LUCIA ELVIRA; DE OLIVEIRA, ALEXANDRE LEITE R.; VICENTE, CRISTINA PONTES; et al. Transected Tendon Treated with a New Fibrin Sealant Alone or Associated with Adipose-Derived Stem Cells. CELLS, v. 8, n. 1, JAN 2019. (12/14973-8)

DE ARO, ANDREA APARECIDA; CARNEIRO, GIANE DANIELA; TEODORO, LUIS FELIPE R.; DA VEIGA, FERNANDA CRISTINA; FERRUCCI, DANILO LOPES; SIMOES, GUSTAVO FERREIRA; SIMOES, PRISCYLA WALESKA; ALVARES, LUCIA ELVIRA; DE OLIVEIRA, ALEXANDRE LEITE R.; VICENTE, CRISTINA PONTES; et al. Injured Achilles Tendons Treated with Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Transplantation and GDF-5. CELLS, v. 7, n. 9, SEP 2018. (12/14973-8)