Effects of Rabbit Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Repair and Related Serum Indicators

This study aimed to analyze the effects of rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury repair and serum urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels. Sixty adult male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly classified into the model group (MG, n = 20), transplantation group (TG, n = 20), and control group (CG, n = 20). Rabbit models of right anterior forelimb ACL injury were injected with bioprotein gel (MG) or rabbit BMSC (TG) in the femoral and tibial tunnels, whereas rabbits in the CG were given no treatment. The IL-4, IL-1, TGF-β, and u-PA levels and tensile force required to break the cruciate ligaments were compared between the groups. After surgery, IL-4, IL-1, TGF-β, and u-PA levels gradually reduced in MG and TG. At the same time point, the highest IL-4 level was observed in MG and the lowest in CG. At 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after surgery, MG required the minimal and CG the maximal tensile forces to break the cruciate ligaments. Rabbit BMSC transplantation is an effective method to repair ACL injury and improve serum u-PA, TGF-β, IL-1, and IL-4 levels in rabbits.