473 EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT OF TENDINITIS AND PLANTAR FASCIITIS BY TENDOACTIVE

IL-1β, stimulated with IL-1β and Tendoactive® or pre-stimulated with Tendoactive® followed by co-treatment with Tendoactive® and IL-1β. Cell viability, adhesion, proliferation and the production of ECM were analysed with light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Immunofluorescence was used to evaluate production of type I collagen, the main extracellular matrix protein produced by tenocytes. We also studied the expression of the signal transduction and adhesion molecule β1integrin.Western Blotting (WB) was performed to evaluate the expression of apoptotic and inflammatory markers (metalloprotease1 (MMP-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) and caspase-3). Results: Tendoactive® had a potent stimulatory effect on human tenocyte proliferation and ECM production and was also able to suppress the catabolic, apoptotic and inflammatory effects induced by IL-1β in human tenocytes. This was demonstrated by the suppression of IL-1β-induced expression of MMP-1, Cox-2 and caspase-3 and up-regulation of type I collagen and β1-integrin. Conclusions: The results presented suggest that this formulation inhibits catabolic and inflammatory processes in an in vitro model of tendonitis.Tendoactive® may therefore be used on prophylaxis and treatment of tendinopathies to stimulate tendon healing, regeneration and repair.