Mechano Growth Factor Accelerates ACL Repair and Improves Cell Mobility of Mechanically Injured Human ACL Fibroblasts by Targeting Rac1-PAK1/2 and RhoA-ROCK1 Pathways.

Sha Y, Zhang B, Chen L, Hong H, Chi Q

International journal of molecular sciences14 Apr 2022Cited by 12 (Europe PMC)

PMID35457148PMCIDPMC9026312DOI10.3390/ijms23084331PepBankPUB-35457148

Summary

Exceeded mechanical stress leads to a sublethal injury to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) fibroblasts, and it will hinder cell mobility and ACL regeneration, and even induce osteoarthritis. The mechano growth factor (MGF) could be responsible for mechanical stress and weakening its negative effects on cell physiological behaviors. In this study, effects of MGF on cell mobility and relevant molecules expression in injured ACL fibroblasts were detected. After an injurious mechanical stretch, the analysis carried out, at 0 and 24 h, respectively, showed that the cell area, roundness, migration, and adhesion of ACL fibroblasts were reduced. MGF (10, 100 ng/mL) treatment could improve cell area, roundness and promote cell migration and adhesion capacity compared with the injured group without MGF. Further study indicated that cell mobility-relevant molecules (PAK1/2, Cdc42, Rac1, RhoA, and ROCK1) expression in ACL fibroblasts was down-regulated at 0 or 24 h after injurious stretch (except Rac1 and RhoA at 0 h). Similarly, MGF improved cell mobility-relevant molecule expression, especially the ROCK1 expression level in ACL fibroblasts at 0 or 24 h after injurious stretch. Protein expression of ROCK1 in injured ACL fibroblasts was also reduced and could be recovered by MGF treatment. In a rabbit partial ACL transection (ACLT) model, ACL exhibited poor regenerative capacity in collagen and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis after partial ACLT for 2 or 4 weeks, and MGF remarkably accelerated ACL regeneration and restored its mechanical loading capacity after partial ACLT for four weeks. Our findings suggest that MGF weakens the effects of pathological stress on cell mobility of ACL fibroblasts and accelerates ACL repair, and might be applied as a future treatment approach to ACL rupture in the clinic.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study8

8 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rabbits with partial ACL transection, MGF accelerated ACL regeneration after four weeks.
In plain wordsIn rabbits with a partly cut knee ligament, MGF sped up ligament regeneration.
Peptide
MGF / PEG-MGF
Outcome
IncreaseACL regeneration
Study
rabbitn: not reported in source
Partial ACL transection model
Outcome group
Tendon and ligament healing · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
In a rabbit partial ACL transection (ACLT) model, ACL exhibited poor regenerative capacity in collagen and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis after partial ACLT for 2 or 4 weeks, and MGF remarkably accelerated ACL regeneration and restored its mechanical loading capacity after partial ACLT for four weeks.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, effects of MGF on cell mobility and relevant molecules expression in injured ACL fibroblasts were detected.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3545714807
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rabbits with partial ACL transection, MGF restored the mechanical loading capacity of the ACL after four weeks.
In plain wordsIn rabbits with a partly cut knee ligament, MGF restored the ligament's ability to bear load.
Peptide
MGF / PEG-MGF
Outcome
IncreaseMechanical loading capacity of the ACL
Study
rabbitn: not reported in source
Partial ACL transection model
Outcome group
Tendon and ligament healing · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
In a rabbit partial ACL transection (ACLT) model, ACL exhibited poor regenerative capacity in collagen and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis after partial ACLT for 2 or 4 weeks, and MGF remarkably accelerated ACL regeneration and restored its mechanical loading capacity after partial ACLT for four weeks.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, effects of MGF on cell mobility and relevant molecules expression in injured ACL fibroblasts were detected.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3545714808
03LabIn vitro (cells)Efficacy outcome
In injured human ACL fibroblasts, MGF at 10 and 100 ng/mL improved cell area versus the injured group without MGF.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, MGF improved the size of injured ligament cells compared with injured cells without MGF.
Peptide
MGF / PEG-MGF
Outcome
IncreaseCell area of injured ACL fibroblasts
Study
humann: not reported in source
Mechanically injured human ACL fibroblasts
Comparator
Injured group without MGF
Outcome group
Tendon and ligament healing · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
10, 100 ng/mLAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
MGF (10, 100 ng/mL) treatment could improve cell area, roundness and promote cell migration and adhesion capacity compared with the injured group without MGF.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, effects of MGF on cell mobility and relevant molecules expression in injured ACL fibroblasts were detected.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3545714801
04LabIn vitro (cells)Efficacy outcome
In injured human ACL fibroblasts, MGF at 10 and 100 ng/mL improved cell roundness versus the injured group without MGF.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, MGF improved the shape of injured ligament cells compared with injured cells without MGF.
Peptide
MGF / PEG-MGF
Outcome
IncreaseCell roundness of injured ACL fibroblasts
Study
humann: not reported in source
Mechanically injured human ACL fibroblasts
Comparator
Injured group without MGF
Outcome group
Tendon and ligament healing · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
10, 100 ng/mLAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
MGF (10, 100 ng/mL) treatment could improve cell area, roundness and promote cell migration and adhesion capacity compared with the injured group without MGF.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, effects of MGF on cell mobility and relevant molecules expression in injured ACL fibroblasts were detected.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3545714802
05LabIn vitro (cells)Efficacy outcome
In injured human ACL fibroblasts, MGF at 10 and 100 ng/mL promoted cell migration versus the injured group without MGF.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, MGF increased the movement of injured ligament cells compared with injured cells without MGF.
Peptide
MGF / PEG-MGF
Outcome
IncreaseMigration of injured ACL fibroblasts
Study
humann: not reported in source
Mechanically injured human ACL fibroblasts
Comparator
Injured group without MGF
Outcome group
Tendon and ligament healing · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
10, 100 ng/mLAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
MGF (10, 100 ng/mL) treatment could improve cell area, roundness and promote cell migration and adhesion capacity compared with the injured group without MGF.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, effects of MGF on cell mobility and relevant molecules expression in injured ACL fibroblasts were detected.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3545714803
06LabIn vitro (cells)Efficacy outcome
In injured human ACL fibroblasts, MGF at 10 and 100 ng/mL promoted cell adhesion versus the injured group without MGF.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, MGF increased the sticking ability of injured ligament cells compared with injured cells without MGF.
Peptide
MGF / PEG-MGF
Outcome
IncreaseAdhesion of injured ACL fibroblasts
Study
humann: not reported in source
Mechanically injured human ACL fibroblasts
Comparator
Injured group without MGF
Outcome group
Tendon and ligament healing · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
10, 100 ng/mLAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
MGF (10, 100 ng/mL) treatment could improve cell area, roundness and promote cell migration and adhesion capacity compared with the injured group without MGF.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, effects of MGF on cell mobility and relevant molecules expression in injured ACL fibroblasts were detected.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3545714804
07LabIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In injured human ACL fibroblasts, MGF improved the expression of cell mobility-relevant molecules, especially ROCK1.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, MGF raised the levels of movement-related molecules in injured ligament cells, most clearly ROCK1.
Peptide
MGF / PEG-MGF
Outcome
IncreaseCell mobility-relevant molecule expression (PAK1/2, Cdc42, Rac1, RhoA, ROCK1)
Study
humann: not reported in source
Mechanically injured human ACL fibroblasts
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Similarly, MGF improved cell mobility-relevant molecule expression, especially the ROCK1 expression level in ACL fibroblasts at 0 or 24 h after injurious stretch.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, effects of MGF on cell mobility and relevant molecules expression in injured ACL fibroblasts were detected.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3545714805
08LabIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In injured human ACL fibroblasts, the reduced ROCK1 protein expression was recovered by MGF treatment.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, MGF restored the lowered ROCK1 protein in injured ligament cells.
Peptide
MGF / PEG-MGF
Outcome
IncreaseROCK1 protein expression
Study
humann: not reported in source
Mechanically injured human ACL fibroblasts
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Protein expression of ROCK1 in injured ACL fibroblasts was also reduced and could be recovered by MGF treatment.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, effects of MGF on cell mobility and relevant molecules expression in injured ACL fibroblasts were detected.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3545714806

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 21:44 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
13 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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