Molecular Biology of ACL Graft Healing: Early Mechanical Loading Perspective

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is vital for knee joint stability, and its rupture is a common injury, especially among athletes in high-demand sports involving pivoting and jumping. ACL reconstruction using grafts-autografts or allografts-is the standard treatment to restore knee function. However, graft healing within the bone tunnel is complex, involving coordinated molecular and cellular events across inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases. During the inflammatory phase, immune cells like neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes infiltrate the injury site, releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6) that initiate the healing cascade via pathways such as NF-κB. The proliferative phase features fibroblast and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) activity, synthesizing extracellular matrix (ECM) components like type III collagen under the influence of growth factors (TGF-β, PDGF, bFGF) and promoting angiogenesis through VEGF. In the remodeling phase, tissue maturation occurs with the replacement of type III collagen by type I collagen, enhanced by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), and alignment of collagen fibers facilitated by mechanotransduction pathways involving integrins and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Early mechanical loading plays a critical role by activating mechanosensitive receptors, leading to the upregulation of anabolic growth factors (IGF-1, PGE2) and promoting cellular responses that enhance graft integration, collagen fiber alignment, and biomechanical properties. Understanding the optimal timing, intensity, and type of mechanical loading is essential for developing effective rehabilitation protocols. Personalized rehabilitation strategies that consider patient-specific factors-such as age, activity level, genetic predispositions (e.g., variations in COL1A1, COL5A1, IL-6, TNF-α genes), and graft type-can optimize healing outcomes. Integrating molecular biology insights with mechanical loading approaches holds promise for improving ACL reconstruction success rates, reducing recovery times, and minimizing complications. Future research should focus on identifying novel molecular targets and signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt/β-catenin) involved in graft healing. Combining mechanical loading with biological augmentations-such as growth factors, stem cells, or gene therapy-may lead to synergistic therapies that further enhance graft integration and functional recovery.

Keywords: anterior cruciate ligament; mechanical loading; mechanotransduction; molecular biology.

Figure 1.. An illustrative diagram of the cellular mechanisms involved in ACL graft healing and the impact of early mechanical loading on the graft’s biomechanical functions over time.

Figure 2.. A graphical summary of all aspects that improve the quality of graft healing.