This study measured the expression level of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta ) isoform expression and the collagen composition within the Achilles tendon from cerebral palsy (CP) patients.

The Achilles tendons were obtained from 15 CP patients with spastic equinovarus. The presence of the TGF-beta isoform and the composition of the collagen were examined histologically, performing by immunohistochemical staining (IHS) and determining the mRNA expression level using a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

IHS revealed the presence of TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 expression in 2/15 cases and 4/15 cases respectively, and weak TGF-beta 3 expression in 7/15 cases. The TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 expression levels were uniform in all 15 cases according to RT-PCR, while TGF-beta 3 expression was observed in 8 out of 15 cases. IHS and RT-PCR showed strong TGF-beta 3 expression in 6/7 non-ambulatory patients. An immature form of collagen, type III collagen, was observed more abundantly in the non-ambulatory patients.

These results suggest that contracture in CP may induce changes in the type of collagen via growth factors such as TGF-beta.