Regulation of αvβ3 and α5β1 integrin receptors by basic fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor-BB in intrasynovial flexor tendon cells

• Published in: Wound repair and regeneration Vol. 7; no. 5; pp. 381 - 388
• Main Authors: Harwood, Frederick L, Goomer, Randal S, Gelberman, Richard H, Silva, Matthew J, Amiel, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Inc 01.09.1999
• ISSN: 1067-1927; 1524-475X
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1524-475X.1999.00381.x

Integrins are important players in soft tissue healing as molecules that mediate communication between cells and extracellular matrix. Thus, the regulation of the expression of these molecules would be important during wound repair. To explore the regulatory roles of specific growth factors on integrin expression by intrasynovial flexor tendon cells, the present study assessed the in vitro effects of basic fibroblast growth factor and platelet derived growth factor‐BB on expression of the α5β1 and αvβ3 integrins in these cells. Analyses were carried out at the transcriptional (reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction) and translational (immunohistochemistry) levels of cellular metabolism. Both types of analyses revealed increased expression of α5β1 and αvβ3 by tendon cells exposed to either basic fibroblast growth factor or platelet‐derived growth factor‐BB over a wide range of growth factor concentrations employed in the study. Semiquantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction showed that, relative to control, basic fibroblast growth factor and platelet‐derived growth factor‐BB increased the expression of αv mRNA by 2‐and 3‐fold, respectively. Alpha 5 mRNA expression was also increased 3‐fold by basic fibroblast growth factor, and 2‐fold by platelet‐derived growth factor‐BB. We believe the results of this study are significant because the specific integrins affected are intimately involved in two events that have been shown to be important to intrasynovial flexor tendon healing, namely fibronectin deposition (α5β1) as part of the provisional matrix and angiogenesis/revascularization (αvβ3).