Novel Anti-Fibrotic Strategies in the Targeted Treatment and Prevention of Post-Traumatic HO and Enhancement of Post-Traumatic Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

Neuromusculoskeletal injuries sustained in recent military conflicts have been notable for their number and complexity. Post-traumatic heterotopic ossification (HO) is the development of bone in the soft tissues and it is a significant sequela of these traumatic wounds occurring in approximately 60-70% of the war wounded. HO is the end product of a deranged fibroproliferative healing response and can render the extremity disfigured, painful and nonfunctional. Our group has studied this condition in combat related injuries at the cell and molecular level for the greater part of the last decade. In addition to identifying a progenitor cell population involved in this healing response, we have also identified TGF-beta mediated tissue fibrosis to be one of the key initial steps in the pathogenesis of HO and that dysregulation of the SMAD3 intracellular signaling protein in conjunction with a fibrotic microenvironment to be a central feature of the bone forming process.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2021
Accession Number
AD1175565

Entities

People

  • Jaira F de Vasconcellos
  • Leon Nesti

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animal Structures
  • Biomedical Research
  • Cell Movement
  • Cells
  • Combat Injuries
  • Data Analysis
  • Gene Expression
  • Growth Factors
  • Heterotopic Ossification
  • Molecular Weight
  • Osteogenesis
  • Pcr Testing
  • Peptide Growth Factors
  • Prosthetics
  • Stem Cells
  • Therapy
  • Wound Healing

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Immunology and Pathology
  • Neurotrauma and Rehabilitation Medicine.
  • Trauma Surgery or Emergency Medicine.