Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2016, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (37): 5477-5482.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2016.37.001

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Alpha-lipoic acid and nerve growth factor promote healing of femoral fracture

Liu Jian-jun1, Huang Liang2, Han Qing-bin1, Li Xin-zhi1, Que Xiang-yong1   

  1. 1Department of Orthopedics, 2Department of Nephrology, Renhe Hospital, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443001, Hubei Province, China
  • Online:2016-09-09 Published:2016-09-09
  • About author:Liu Jian-jun, Master, Attending physician, Lecturer, Department of Orthopedics, Renhe Hospital, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443001, Hubei Province, China
  • Supported by:

     

    the Youth Foundation of Three Gorges University in 2012, No. KJ2012A020

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: During fracture healing, in addition to the need for appropriate biomechanical environment, the role of cytokines is also increasingly attracted attention.
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of nerve growth factor and alpha-lipoic acid on fracture healing in rat models of femoral fracture.
METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rat models of femoral fracture were established. Seventy-two rats were randomly divided into three groups. In the control group, rats were intramuscularly injected with physiological saline. In the nerve growth factor group, rats were intramuscularly injected with nerve growth factor 200 ng/kg, once a day. In the combined therapy group, rats were intramuscularly injected with nerve growth factor 200 ng/kg and orally taken alpha-lipoic acid 25 mg/kg, once a day. At 1, 2 and 3 weeks after administration, bony callus volume was measured. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure serum bone morphogenetic protein-2 levels. Western blot assay was utilized to detect bone morphogenetic protein-2 protein expression at the broken end of fracture. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was applied to examine vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA expression.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) At 1 week after administration, no significant difference in bony callus volume was detected among the three groups. Serum bone morphogenetic protein-2 level, bone morphogenetic protein-2 protein expression, and vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA expression were significantly higher in the nerve growth factor group and combined therapy group compared with the control group (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between the two groups. (2) At 2 weeks after administration, the amount of callus, serum bone morphogenetic protein-2 levels, bone morphogenetic protein-2 protein expression, and vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA levels were significantly higher in the nerve growth factor group and combined therapy group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Above expression levels were higher in the combined therapy group than in the nerve growth factor group (P < 0.05). (3) At 3 weeks after administration, serum bone morphogenetic protein-2 levels, bone morphogenetic protein-2 protein expression, and vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the nerve growth factor group. However, above expression levels were still high in the combined therapy group, and significantly higher than in the nerve growth factor group (P < 0.05). (4) These results indicate that nerve growth factor combined with alpha-lipoic acid had better effects on the fracture healing compared with the nerve growth factor alone.
 

Key words: Nerve Growth Factor, Thioctic Acid, Femoral Fractures, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors, Tissue Engineering

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