MGF E peptide pretreatment improves collagen synthesis and cell proliferation of injured human ACL fibroblasts via MEK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway

Injured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is hard to heal due to the poor proliferative potential of ACL fibroblasts. To verify whether mechano-growth factor (MGF) E peptide can restore the cell proliferation of injured ACL fibroblasts, ACL fibroblasts pretreated with MGF E peptide were subjected to injurious stretch and the outcomes were evaluated at 0 and 24 h. After injured, the type III collagen synthesis was increased at 0 h while inhibited at 24 h. The matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity/expression was up-regulated, but the cell proliferation was inhibited. Fortunately, exogenous MGF E peptide decreased the type I/III collagen synthesis at 0 h but improved the type III collagen synthesis at 24 h. It decreased the MMP-2 activity/expression of injured ACL fibroblasts. Besides, MGF E peptide accelerated the cell proliferation via MEK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Our results implied that MGF E peptide pretreatment could provide a new efficient approach for ACL regeneration.