Downregulation of type I collagen expression in the Achilles tendon by dexamethasone: a controlled laboratory study

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous Achilles tendon rupture associated with long-term dexamethasone (Dex) use has been reported. However, few studies have investigated the potential mechanism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral Dex on type I collagen in humans and rats and its association with tendon rupture. METHODS: First, six Achilles tendons from patients who received long-term Dex treatment, and another six normal tendons were harvested for histological evaluation. Secondly, 8-week-old rats (n = 72) were randomly assigned to a Dex group or a control group. Type I collagen was studied at the mechanical, histological, and molecular levels after 3 and 5 weeks. Tenocytes isolated from normal human and rat tendon were used to investigate the effect of Dex on cellular scale. RESULTS: Histological analysis of human and rat tendon tissue revealed an irregular, disordered arrangement of type I collagen in the Dex group compared with the control group. In addition, In the Dex+ group, type I collagen expression decreased in comparison with the Dex− group in both human and rat tenocytes. The mechanical strength of tendons was significantly reduced in the Dex group (68.87 ± 11.07 N) in comparison with the control group (81.46 ± 7.62 N, P = 0.013) after 5 weeks. Tendons in the Dex group were shorter with smaller cross-sectional areas (10.71 ± 0.34 mm(2), 1.44 ± 0.22 mm(2), respectively) after 5 weeks than those in the control group (11.13 ± 0.50 mm(2), P = 0.050, 2.74 ± 0.34 mm(2), P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This finding suggests long-term use of Dex that decreases the expression of type I collagen at molecular and tissue levels both in human and rat Achilles tendons. Furthermore, Dex decreases the mechanical strength of the tendon, thereby increasing the risk of Achilles tendon rupture.