Effect of Endurance Training and Stem Cell Injection on PDGF and PDGFr Gene Expression in Knee Tissue of Rats with Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common musculoskeletal disorder characterized by loss of articular cartilage, bone changes and synovial membrane inflammation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of endurance training and stem cell infusion on PDGF and PDGFr gene expression in knee tissue of rats with knee osteoarthritis.

To select the statistical sample, 37 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups of seven: control (healthy), control (patient), stem cell, training and stem cell-training. The training program consisted of 25 to 29 minutes of running on the treadmill at 15 m / min for the first week, and every week 1 m/min was added until it reached 22 m / min in the eighth week. 48 hours after exercise training, samples were taken from the knee tissue. PDGF and PDGFr gene expression was measured by Real-Time PCR. One way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test were used to determine the difference between groups.

The results of this study showed that PDGF and PDGFr gene expression levels increased in the patient group compared to the healthy group (P=0.00, P=0.00). Also, PDGF gene expression levels significantly decreased in the training, stem cell and training-stem cell groups compared to the patient group (P=0.05,P=0.025); However, PDGFr gene expression levels were significantly decreased only in the stem cell and training-stem cell group compared to the patient group (P=0.043, P=0.039).

Growth factors such as PDGf exert their anabolic and anti-inflammatory effects to maintain chondrogenic potential by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway.