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. 2009 Feb;27(2):257-63.
doi: 10.1002/jor.20731.

Lubricin surface modification improves tendon gliding after tendon repair in a canine model in vitro

Manabu Taguchi  1 , Yu-Long Sun, Chunfeng Zhao, Mark E Zobitz, Chung-Ja Cha, Gregory D Jay, Kai-Nan An, Peter C Amadio
Affiliations

Lubricin surface modification improves tendon gliding after tendon repair in a canine model in vitro

Manabu Taguchi et al. J Orthop Res. 2009 Feb.

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of lubricin on the gliding of repaired flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons in vitro. Canine FDP tendons were completely lacerated, repaired with a modified Pennington technique, and treated with one of the following solutions: saline, carbodiimide derivatized gelatin/hyaluronic acid (cd-HA-gelatin), carbodiimide derivatized gelatin to which lubricin was added in a second step (cd-gelatin + lubricin), or carbodiimide derivatized gelatin/HA + lubricin (cd-HA-gelatin + lubricin). After treatment, gliding resistance was measured up to 1,000 cycles of simulated flexion/extension motion. The increase in average and peak gliding resistance in cd-HA-gelatin, cd-gelatin + lubricin, and cd-HA-gelatin + lubricin tendons was less than the control tendons after 1,000 cycles (p < 0.05). The increase in average gliding resistance of cd-HA-gelatin + lubricin treated tendons was also less than that of the cd-HA-gelatin treated tendons (p < 0.05). The surfaces of the repaired tendons and associated pulleys were assessed qualitatively with scanning electron microscopy and appeared smooth after 1,000 cycles of tendon motion for the cd-HA-gelatin, cd-gelatin + lubricin, and cd-HA-gelatin + lubricin treated tendons, while that of the saline control appeared roughened. These results suggest that tendon surface modification can improve tendon gliding ability, with a trend suggesting that lubricin fixed on the repaired tendon may provide additional improvement over that provided by HA and gelatin alone.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Lateral view of testing apparatus for measurement of gliding resistance between the repaired FDP tendon and its proximal pulley. F1 is the distal force transducer and F2 is the proximal force transducer.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Increase in average gliding resistance of repaired FDP tendon after treatment at 1,000 cycles. Tendon was treated with saline (saline), 10% gelatin/1% HA/1% EDC/1% NHS (cd-HA-gelatin), 10% gelatin/1% EDC/1% NHS + lubricin (cd-gelatin + lubricin), and 10% gelatin/1% HA/1% EDC/1% NHS + lubricin (cd-HA-gelatin + lubricin). (*) indicates significant difference (p < 0.05).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Increase in peak gliding resistance of repaired FDP tendon after treatment at 1,000 cycles. (*) indicates significant difference (p < 0.05).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Increase in average gliding resistance of repaired FDP tendon in the four treatment groups at different cycles of tendon motion.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The surface of repaired FDP tendon treated with (A) saline, (B) cd-HA-gelatin, (C) cd-gelatin + lubricin, and (D) cd-HA-gelatin + lubricin after 1,000 cycles of tendon motion. Bar = 5 μm.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The surface of proximal pulley in (A) saline, (B) cd-HA-gelatin, (C) cd-gelatin + lubricin, and (D) cd-HA-gelatin + lubricin group after 1,000 cycles of tendon motion. Bar = 2 mm.
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