Abstract
Treatment of tendon injuries is challenging, with neither conservative nor surgical approaches providing full recovery. Placental-derived tissues represent a promising tool for the treatment of tendon injuries. In this study, human amniotic suspension allograft (ASA) was investigated in a pre-clinical model of Achilles tendinopathy. Collagenase type I was injected in the right hind limb of Sprague Dawley rats to induce disease. Contralateral tendons were either left untreated or injected with saline as controls. Seven days following induction, tendons were injected with saline, ASA, or left untreated. Rats were sacrificed 14 and 28 days post-treatment. Histological and biomechanical analysis of tendons was completed. Fourteen days after ASA injection, improved fiber alignment and reduced cell density demonstrated improvement in degenerated tendons. Twenty-eight days post-treatment, tendons in all treatment groups showed fewer signs of degeneration, which is consistent with normal tendon healing. No statistically significant differences in histological or biomechanical analyses were observed between treatment groups at 28 days independent of the treatment they received. In this study, ASA treatment was safe, well-tolerated, and resulted in a widespread improvement of the tissue. The results of this study provide preliminary insights regarding the potential use of ASA for the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy.
Highlights
The poor intrinsic regenerative potential of tendons leads to repaired tissue that is consistently different from the native one; this tissue is characterized by altered matrix deposition, especially in terms of collagen composition and fibril alignment [1]
This study found that 91% of patients had 30% or greater improvement of pain at 3 months following injection, and activities of daily living (ADL) functional impairment scores improved/decreased from 6.8 to 2.0 [22]
We evaluated the use of amniotic suspension allograft (ASA) in a rat Achilles collagenase-induced tendinopathy model and hypothesized that ASA would result in improved tendon healing as examined through histological and biomechanical analysis compared to untreated groups
Summary
The poor intrinsic regenerative potential of tendons leads to repaired tissue that is consistently different from the native one; this tissue is characterized by altered matrix deposition, especially in terms of collagen composition and fibril alignment [1]. Cells 2019, 8, 1411 mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from either adipose tissue (ASCs), bone marrow (BMSCs), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), or tendon-derived stem/progenitor cells (TSPCs) [2,3,4]. These autologous cell sources result in donor site morbidity and, a longer and more uncomfortable surgical procedure and recovery for patients. The use of an allogenic source would allow physicians to overcome these limitations while maintaining the cell therapeutic effects. Several studies in the literature highlight the potential of amniotic membrane and amniotic fluid for a variety of orthopedic indications, as they are sources of collagen, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, growth and reparative factors, and stem cells [5,6,7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
