Changes in Gene Expression Associated with Collagen Regeneration and Remodeling of Extracellular Matrix after Percutaneous Electrolysis on Collagenase-Induced Achilles Tendinopathy in an Experimental Animal Model: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Percutaneous electrolysis is an emerging intervention proposed for the management of tendinopathies. Tendon pathology is characterized by a significant cell response to injury and gene expression. No study investigating changes in expression of those genes associated with collagen regeneration and remodeling of extracellular matrix has been conducted. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate gene expression changes after the application of percutaneous electrolysis on experimentally induced Achilles tendinopathy with collagenase injection in an animal model. Fifteen Sprague Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three different groups (no treatment vs. percutaneous electrolysis vs. needling). Achilles tendinopathy was experimentally induced with a single bolus of collagenase injection. Interventions consisted of 3 sessions (one per week) of percutaneous electrolysis or just needling. The rats were euthanized, and molecular expression of genes involved in tendon repair and remodeling, e.g., Cox2, Mmp2, Mmp9, Col1a1, Col3a1, Vegf and Scx, was examined at 28 days after injury. Histological tissue changes were determined with hematoxylin–eosin and safranin O analyses. The images of hematoxylin–eosin and Safranin O tissue images revealed that collagenase injection induced histological changes compatible with a tendinopathy. No further histological changes were observed after the application of percutaneous electrolysis or needling. A significant increase in molecular expression of Cox2, Mmp9 and Vegf genes was observed in Achilles tendons treated with percutaneous electrolysis to a greater extent than after just needling. The expression of Mmp2, Col1a1, Col3a1, or Scx genes also increased, but did not reach statistical significance. This animal study demonstrated that percutaneous electrolysis applied on an experimentally induced Achilles tendinopathy model could increase the expression of some genes associated with collagen regeneration and remodeling of extracellular matrix. The observed gene overexpression was higher with percutaneous electrolysis than with just needling.

Galvanic current dosage and bacterial concentration are determinants of the bactericidal effect of percutaneous needle electrolysis: an in vitro study

“…Percutaneous Needle Electrolysis (PNE) is a novel, minimally invasive approach involving the application of a galvanic electric current through a needle 1 . This procedure generates different alkaline molecules, capable of generating a non-thermal electrochemical ablation by cathodic flow directly into the affected tissue 2 .…”

Muscular Echovariation as a New Biomarker for the Classification of Soleus Muscle Pathology: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Considering US as the first-line imaging modality to diagnosis and follow-up of musculoskeletal injuries [10], it was not necessary to perform magnetic resonance imaging like other studies [27]. Nowadays, in the field of sports, there is an urgent need to improve the interpretation of ultrasound images to establish accuracy diagnoses and apply the best treatment options, from a regenerative therapeutic point of view [28,29]. Hence, there is a huge enthusiasm in knowing soleus muscle features and having a better knowledge of pathological characteristics [6,7,30,31].…”

Endogenous Pain Modulation in Response to a Single Session of Percutaneous Electrolysis in Healthy Population: A Double-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Although these hypotheses have been proposed based on clinical results, and mechanistic research contrasting them is scarce, pioneering works have examined the histologic and molecular response produced by the PE application to tendon or muscle in rats. These authors have reported an increase in the expression of anti-inflammatory proteins, angiogenic factors, and some genes related to collagen regeneration and a decrease in pro-inflammatory mediators [ 5 , 18 , 19 ].…”