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Updated: Mar 27, 2026
Murine Flexor Tendon Injury and Repair Surgery
Published on: September 19, 2016
Fibulin-7 Promotes Short-term Histological Bone-Tendon Interface Healing in a Murine Rotator Cuff Repair Model
Junhao Li1,2,3, Huabin Chen4,5, Weikun Zheng1,2,3
1The First Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Background:
Aging is associated with degenerative changes in both bone and tendon tissues, leading to impaired healing at the bone-tendon interface (BTI) during rotator cuff repair. The role of fibulin-7 (FBLN7) in enhancing BTI healing in aged populations warrants an investigation because of its potential regenerative properties.
Purpose:
To determine whether FBLN7 can enhance tendon-bone healing and regeneration in a model of rotator cuff repair in aging mice.
Study Design:
Controlled laboratory study.
Methods:
A total of 5 young (8 weeks old) and 5 aged (18 months old) C57BL/6 mice were used for a baseline supraspinatus tendon-humerus evaluation. Another 20 aged mice underwent rotator cuff repair and were allocated to either the FBLN7 (intervention) group (n = 10), receiving a fibrin sealant with FBLN7, or a control group (n = 10), receiving a standard fibrin sealant. Mice were euthanized at 4 (n = 5 per group) and 8 (n = 5 per group) weeks after surgery. The supraspinatus tendon-humerus complexes were harvested for micro-computed tomography, histological analysis, and biomechanical testing.
Results:
The expression of FBLN7 was significantly lower in aged mice at the BTI compared with young mice (P < .05). Histological and biomechanical assessments revealed that the FBLN7 group exhibited improved subchondral bone morphology (P < .05) and denser cortical bone (P < .05), along with significantly higher failure loads and stiffness (P < .05), compared with the control group. Additionally, the FBLN7 group demonstrated superior fibrocartilage formation (P < .05) and the upregulated expression of osteogenic (Runx2; P < .01 at week 4 and P < .05 at week 8), chondrogenic (Sox9; P < .01 at week 4 and P < .05 at week 8), and tenogenic (SCX; P < .05 at week 4) factors.
Conclusion:
FBLN7 significantly enhanced healing and regeneration at the BTI in aged mice, supporting its potential as a therapeutic intervention to improve rotator cuff repair outcomes.
Clinical Relevance:
These findings highlight FBLN7's potential role in clinical sports medicine, suggesting that it could be utilized to promote better recovery and healing in aged patients undergoing rotator cuff repair, addressing a critical challenge in postoperative rehabilitation.
