RAGE INHIBITION AS A METHOD TO IMPROVE TENDON FUNCTION IN A HEALING MURINE MODEL

These pre-clinical data suggest elevated AGE, as seen with diabetes, could impact tendon healing in vivo. If, with a large sample size, we find that RAGE inhibition limits the impact of AGEs on tendon healing, then local RAGE inhibition could be a viable therapeutical approach to improve tendon properties in individuals with elevated AGEs. While additional work is needed to define the role of RAGE in regulating tendon properties, our preliminary results provide a premise for detailed mechanistic studies. Our initial work in mice provides a framework to evaluate the potential of lowering serum AGEs to improve tendon healing.