Development of a therapeutic modality for rotator cuff repair through Hedgehog signaling pathway

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09554
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: Karasugi Tatsuki 熊本大学, 病院, 講師 (80706482)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 徳永 琢也 熊本大学, 病院, 特任助教 (60759520)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 腱板断裂 / Hedgehogシグナル / Smoothened agonist

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Retear rates following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair are relatively high. Hedgehog (Hh) signaling has been shown to play an important role in the formation of the fibrocartilage layer at normal rotator cuff insertions and in repair following injury. To promote healing following rotator cuff repair, we administered Smoothened agonist (SAG), an Hh signaling agonist, in a rat model of rotator cuff repair and performed the following two experiments on harvested shoulder tissue. (1) Tensile testing using a tension meter showed no change in the mechanical strength of the repaired rotator cuff. (2) Histological evaluation showed no histological changes. This study could not verify the benefit of Hh signaling in promoting rotator cuff repair in a rat model.

Free Research Field

整形外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

正常な腱板付着部の構造である線維軟骨層の形成やその損傷後の修復にはHedgehog(Hh)シグナルが重要な役割を担っていることが報告されており、本研究ではラット腱板修復モデルに対してHhシグナルを増強するSmoothened agonist(SAG)を局所投与し腱板修復促進効果の検証を試みた。しかしながらSAGの局所投与では腱板修復部のHhシグナルは増強せず、力学強度や組織学的所見の変化を認めなかった。SAGの投与法、またはHhシグナルに応答する細胞に対する解析が今後必要と考えられた。