Increased Expression of the TGF-beta Isoform and Changed Contents of Collagen in Tendon of Cerebral Palsy Patients / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study measured the expression level of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta ) isoform expression and the collagen composition within the Achilles tendon from cerebral palsy (CP) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Achilles tendons were obtained from 15 CP patients with spastic equinovarus. The presence of the TGF-beta isoform and the composition of the collagen were examined histologically, performing by immunohistochemical staining (IHS) and determining the mRNA expression level using a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: IHS revealed the presence of TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 expression in 2/15 cases and 4/15 cases respectively, and weak TGF-beta 3 expression in 7/15 cases. The TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 expression levels were uniform in all 15 cases according to RT-PCR, while TGF-beta 3 expression was observed in 8 out of 15 cases. IHS and RT-PCR showed strong TGF-beta 3 expression in 6/7 non-ambulatory patients. An immature form of collagen, type III collagen, was observed more abundantly in the non-ambulatory patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that contracture in CP may induce changes in the type of collagen via growth factors such as TGF-beta .