Evaluation of cytokines in protective effect of docosahexaenoic acid in experimental achilles tendinopathy rat model induced with type-1 collagenase

Background We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as a treatment for Achilles tendinopathy (AT) induced with type-I collagenase in rats and compare it with collagen. Methods The AT model was induced with type I collagenase, and animals were randomly assigned to groups. Group 1:AT, Group 2: Collagen (7.2 mg/kg/day), Group 3:DHA (300 mg/kg/day), and Group 4:DHA (100 mg/kg/day). Right tendons of Group1 were used as a healthy control (HC). Oral treatments were applied for eight weeks. Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), and interleukin-1 beta(IL-1 beta) concentrations were determined by ELISA. Tendon samples were taken for histopathological evaluation and examined immunohistochemically with antibodies specific for Col1A1, TNF-alpha, MMP-13, IL-1 beta, and nitric oxide synthase-2(NOS-2). The ultimate tensile force (UTF) yield force(YF) and stiffness were measured by biomechanical assessments. Results UTF,YF and stiffness values were increased in all treatment groups compared to the AT control, a significant increase was found in Group 2 (p < 0.05). There was severe degeneration of tendon cells in the AT control. The tendon cells in samples from Groups 2-3 were less degraded, and this was statistically significant (p < 0.05). TNF-alpha, MMP-13, IL-1 beta, and NOS-2 expressions were significantly higher in the AT control compared to the HC. In all treatment groups, their concentrations were lower than in the AT control. Serum TNF-alpha, MMP-13, and IL-1 beta levels were lower in all treatment groups (Especially in Group3 (p < 0.001)) compared to Group1. Conclusion The efficacy of high-dose DHA as a treatment for AT was investigated from biochemical, histopathological, and biomechanical perspectives. The results showed that DHA could be an alternative treatment compound to collagen.