Increased Serum and Musculotendinous Fibrogenic Proteins following Persistent Low-Grade Inflammation in a Rat Model of Long-Term Upper Extremity Overuse.

Authors

Helen G L Gao, Temple University School of Medicine
Paul W Fisher, Temple University School of Medicine
Alex G Lambi, Temple University School of Medicine
Christine K Wade, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Ann E Barr-Gillespie, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Steven N Popoff, Temple University School of MedicineFollow
Mary F Barbe, Temple University School of MedicineFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2013

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed. It was published in: PLoS One

Volume 8, Issue 8, August 28 2013, Pages e71875.

The published version is available at DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071875. Copyright © PLoS One.

Abstract

We examined the relationship between grip strength declines and muscle-tendon responses induced by long-term performance of a high-repetition, low-force (HRLF) reaching task in rats. We hypothesized that grip strength declines would correlate with inflammation, fibrosis and degradation in flexor digitorum muscles and tendons. Grip strength declined after training, and further in weeks 18 and 24, in reach limbs of HRLF rats. Flexor digitorum tissues of reach limbs showed low-grade increases in inflammatory cytokines: IL-1β after training and in week 18, IL-1α in week 18, TNF-α and IL-6 after training and in week 24, and IL-10 in week 24, with greater increases in tendons than muscles. Similar cytokine increases were detected in serum with HRLF: IL-1α and IL-10 in week 18, and TNF-α and IL-6 in week 24. Grip strength correlated inversely with IL-6 in muscles, tendons and serum, and TNF-α in muscles and serum. Four fibrogenic proteins, TGFB1, CTGF, PDGFab and PDGFbb, and hydroxyproline, a marker of collagen synthesis, increased in serum in HRLF weeks 18 or 24, concomitant with epitendon thickening, increased muscle and tendon TGFB1 and CTGF. A collagenolytic gelatinase, MMP2, increased by week 18 in serum, tendons and muscles of HRLF rats. Grip strength correlated inversely with TGFB1 in muscles, tendons and serum; with CTGF-immunoreactive fibroblasts in tendons; and with MMP2 in tendons and serum. Thus, motor declines correlated with low-grade systemic and musculotendinous inflammation throughout task performance, and increased fibrogenic and degradative proteins with prolonged task performance. Serum TNF-α, IL-6, TGFB1, CTGF and MMP2 may serve as serum biomarkers of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, although further studies in humans are needed.

Recommended Citation

Gao, Helen G L; Fisher, Paul W; Lambi, Alex G; Wade, Christine K; Barr-Gillespie, Ann E; Popoff, Steven N; and Barbe, Mary F, "Increased Serum and Musculotendinous Fibrogenic Proteins following Persistent Low-Grade Inflammation in a Rat Model of Long-Term Upper Extremity Overuse." (2013). Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Papers. Paper 14.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/ptfp/14

PubMed ID

24015193