A comparative study of the epiligament of the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments in the human knee: Immunohistochemical analysis of CD 34, α-smooth muscle actin and vascular endothelial growth factor in relation to epiligament theory.
Humans
Actins
/ metabolism
Anterior Cruciate Ligament
/ anatomy & histology
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
/ metabolism
Collateral Ligaments
Knee Joint
/ anatomy & histology
Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee
/ anatomy & histology
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
/ metabolism
Wound Healing
/ physiology
Antigens, CD34
/ metabolism
Anterior cruciate ligament
Epiligament
Epiligament theory
Human
Knee
Medial collateral ligament
Journal
The Knee
ISSN: 1873-5800
Titre abrégé: Knee
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 9430798
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Dec 2022
Dec 2022
Historique:
received:
03
02
2022
revised:
02
06
2022
accepted:
20
07
2022
pubmed:
1
10
2022
medline:
15
12
2022
entrez:
30
9
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
This study evaluated and compared the expression of VEGF, CD34, and α-SMA in the anterior cruciate ligaments and medial collateral ligaments in healthy human knees in order to enrich the epiligament theory regarding ligament healing after injury. Samples from the mid-substance of the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament of 12 fresh knee joints were used. Monoclonal antibodies against CD34, α-SMA, and VEGF were used for immunohistochemical analysis. Photomicrographs were analyzed using the ImageJ software. The epiligament of the anterior cruciate ligament showed slightly higher expression of CD34, α-SMA, and VEGF than the epiligament of the medial collateral ligament. Overall, among the tested markers, α-SMA expression was most pronounced in anterior cruciate ligament epiligament images and CD34 dominated in medial collateral ligament epiligament images. The intensity of DAB staining for CD34, α-SMA, and VEGF was higher in vascular areas of the epiligament than in epiligament connective tissue. The results illustrate that CD34, α-SMA, and VEGF are expressed in the human epiligament. The differences between the epiligament of the investigated ligaments and the fact that CD34, α-SMA, and VEGF, which are known to have a definite role in ligament healing, are predominantly expressed in the main vascular part of the ligament-epiligament complex enlarge the existing epiligament theory. Future investigations regarding better ligament healing should not overlook the epiligament tissue.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
This study evaluated and compared the expression of VEGF, CD34, and α-SMA in the anterior cruciate ligaments and medial collateral ligaments in healthy human knees in order to enrich the epiligament theory regarding ligament healing after injury.
METHODS
METHODS
Samples from the mid-substance of the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament of 12 fresh knee joints were used. Monoclonal antibodies against CD34, α-SMA, and VEGF were used for immunohistochemical analysis. Photomicrographs were analyzed using the ImageJ software.
RESULTS
RESULTS
The epiligament of the anterior cruciate ligament showed slightly higher expression of CD34, α-SMA, and VEGF than the epiligament of the medial collateral ligament. Overall, among the tested markers, α-SMA expression was most pronounced in anterior cruciate ligament epiligament images and CD34 dominated in medial collateral ligament epiligament images. The intensity of DAB staining for CD34, α-SMA, and VEGF was higher in vascular areas of the epiligament than in epiligament connective tissue.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
The results illustrate that CD34, α-SMA, and VEGF are expressed in the human epiligament. The differences between the epiligament of the investigated ligaments and the fact that CD34, α-SMA, and VEGF, which are known to have a definite role in ligament healing, are predominantly expressed in the main vascular part of the ligament-epiligament complex enlarge the existing epiligament theory. Future investigations regarding better ligament healing should not overlook the epiligament tissue.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36179587
pii: S0968-0160(22)00114-4
doi: 10.1016/j.knee.2022.07.013
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Actins
0
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
0
ACTA2 protein, human
0
Antigens, CD34
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
78-90Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: [Georgi P. Georgiev reports a relationship with Medical Iniversity of Sofia that includes: employment.]