Summary

ACL reconstruction is carried out arthroscopically using autograft or allograft. However, graft failure is an important clinical outcome after ACL reconstruction. It is important to better understand the role of gene expression in normal and injured ACL for clinical guidance in patient management and development of new therapeutic options for ACL reconstruction

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to compare the effect of autograft or allograft anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction on the expressions of LOXs and MMPs in a New Zealand white rabbit model.

Methods

NewZealand white rabbits were divided randomly into control, sham, autograft and allograft groups At the 4th and 8th week after operation, biomechanical testing was performed to measure the primary length, cross-sectional area, maximum tensile load and stiffness of ACL, and HE staining was used to observe cell morphology and fibre alignment of ACL. At the 2nd, 4th and 8th week after operation, qRT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were applied to detect LOXs and MMPs expressions, and expressions of APC/Wnt signaling pathway-related proteins.

Results

At the 4th and 8th week after operation, the maximum tensile load and stiffness were higher in the autograft group than in the allograft group, and the values at the 8th week were higher than those at the 4th week after operation. The fibroblast proliferation in the allograft group was more significant than that in the autograft group. Compared with the control group, LOXs and MMPs expressions, and the positive expression rates of LOXs and MMPs proteins were elevated, and the values in the allograft group were higher than those in the autograft group at all time points. At 8th week after operation, compared with the autograft group, Wnt expression was higher and APC expression lower in the allograft group.

Conclusion

Autograft and allograft ACL reconstruction can promote LOXs and MMPs expressions by activating the APC/Wnt signaling pathway.