Use of growth factors to improve muscle healing after strain injury

Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2000 Jan:(370):272-85. doi: 10.1097/00003086-200001000-00028.

Abstract

Muscle injuries represent a large number of professional and recreational sports injuries. Muscle strains habitually occur after an eccentric contraction, which often leads to an injury located in the myotendinous junction. Treatment varies widely, depending on the severity of the trauma, but has remained limited mostly to rest, ice, compression, elevation, antiinflammatory drugs, and mobilization. The authors' research group aims to develop new biologic approaches to improve muscle healing after injuries, including muscle strains. To achieve this goal, the authors investigated several parameters that will lead to the development of new strategies to enhance muscle healing. The authors first evaluated natural muscle healing after strain injuries and showed that muscle regeneration occurs in the early phase of healing but becomes impaired with time by the development of tissue fibrosis. Several growth factors capable of improving muscle regeneration were investigated; basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, and nerve growth factors were identified as substances capable of enhancing muscle regeneration and improving muscle force in the strained injured muscle. The current study should aid in the development of strategies to promote efficient muscle healing and complete recovery after strain injury.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cumulative Trauma Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Cumulative Trauma Disorders / metabolism
  • Desmin / drug effects
  • Desmin / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / therapeutic use*
  • Hindlimb
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / therapeutic use*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / injuries*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Nerve Growth Factor / therapeutic use*
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Time Factors
  • Vimentin / drug effects
  • Vimentin / metabolism
  • Wound Healing / drug effects*

Substances

  • Desmin
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Vimentin
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Nerve Growth Factor