Application of gene therapy in the treatment of superficial digital flexor tendon injury in horses.
Abstract: Tendon injuries are one of the most common causes of orthopedic disorders in horses. Such injuries involve a long course of treatment and recovery. The most promising method of treating these injuries is the use of recombinant proteins and gene therapy. In this work, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of plasmid DNA (pDNA) containing two species-specific coding sequences, i.e. vascular endothelial growth factor 164 (VEGF164) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), in the treatment of severe damage to the tendon of the superficial digital flexor. A pDNA construct was used to restore the damaged superficial digital flexor tendon in the horse. This study showed that the administration of pDNA encoding VEGF164 and FGF2 genes at the injury area increased the regenerative activities of the damaged tendon. This study shows the therapeutic properties of genetic constructs (pDNA) and contributes to the advancements in the use of these therapies.
Publication Date: 2020-07-31 PubMed ID: 33282696PubMed Central: PMC7703612DOI: 10.4314/ovj.v10i3.3Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research studies the use of gene therapy, specifically the use of plasmid DNA (pDNA) coding sequences, in the treatment of common yet severe tendon injuries in horses.
Research Methodology
- The researchers carried out a scientific investigation into how gene therapy could be leveraged to treat severe tendon injuries in horses, specifically those affecting the superficial digital flexor.
- This study hinges on the use of plasmid DNA (pDNA) containing two species-specific coding sequences. These are vascular endothelial growth factor 164 (VEGF164) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2).
- pDNA is a type of small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecule which naturally exists in bacteria and a few eukaryotic organisms. In this study, the researchers constructed a pDNA, which aimed to repair and regenerate the damaged tendon in the affected horses.
Findings and Implications
- The study results reveal that the administration of pDNA, encoding the VEGF164 and FGF2 genes directly into the injury site, increased the regenerative activities of the damaged tendon.
- These findings suggest that the encoded genes may stimulate cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, and may also possibly promote angiogenesis – the process through which new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels. Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in the healing of wounds and in the formation of granulation tissue.
- By demonstrating the therapeutic properties of genetic constructs (In this case, pDNA), the study contributes to advancements in the use of gene therapies. Applying gene therapy in this way could significantly reduce horses’ recovery time from these common injuries.
- This research could also potentially open up avenues for further investigations into the application of gene therapy in other orthopedic disorders, not only in horses but also in other animals and even humans.
Cite This Article
APA
Aimaletdinov A, Mindubaeva G, Khalikova S, Kabwe E, Salmakova A, Alexandrova N, Rutland C, Rizvanov A, Zakirova E.
(2020).
Application of gene therapy in the treatment of superficial digital flexor tendon injury in horses.
Open Vet J, 10(3), 261-266.
https://doi.org/10.4314/ovj.v10i3.3 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Exploratory Research, Scientific and Educational Center of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation.
- International equestrian center «E;Kazan», Russian Federation.
- International equestrian center «E;Kazan», Russian Federation.
- Department of Exploratory Research, Scientific and Educational Center of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation.
- Kazan Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Kazan, the Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
- Department of Exploratory Research, Scientific and Educational Center of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation.
- Department of Exploratory Research, Scientific and Educational Center of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation.
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
- Department of Exploratory Research, Scientific and Educational Center of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation.
- Department of Exploratory Research, Scientific and Educational Center of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / therapeutic use
- Genetic Therapy / statistics & numerical data
- Genetic Therapy / veterinary
- Horses / injuries
- Male
- Plasmids / therapeutic use
- Tendon Injuries / therapy
- Tendon Injuries / veterinary
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / therapeutic use
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
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This article includes 26 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Puchalska M, Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O. Gene doping in horse racing and equine sports: Current landscape and future perspectives. Equine Vet J 2025 Mar;57(2):312-324.
- Taguchi T, Lopez M, Takawira C. Viable tendon neotissue from adult adipose-derived multipotent stromal cells. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023;11:1290693.
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