4.6 Article

Achilles Tendons Display Region-Specific Transcriptomic Signatures Associated With Distinct Mechanical Properties

期刊

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
卷 50, 期 14, 页码 3866-3874

出版社

SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
DOI: 10.1177/03635465221128589

关键词

RNA sequencing; tenocyte; gene expression atlas; tendon heterogeneity

资金

  1. National Institutes of Health [2 R01 AR063649-06]
  2. Flexion Therapeutics
  3. Smith Nephew
  4. AOSSM

向作者/读者索取更多资源

This study investigated the transcriptomic and mechanical properties of a single Achilles tendon and found region-specific gene expression signatures and mechanical properties. The proximal region displayed gene expression resembling a tendon phenotype and increased expression of nerve cell markers, while the distal region showed increased expression of genes involved in extracellular matrix synthesis and remodeling, immune cell regulation, and a phenotype similar to cartilage and bone. There was a significant increase in Young modulus from the proximal to middle region and an additional increase from the middle to distal region.
Background: Previous studies have examined the transcriptomes and mechanical properties of whole tendons in different regions of the body. However, less is known about these characteristics within a single tendon. Purpose: To develop a regional transcriptomic atlas and evaluate the region-specific mechanical properties of Achilles tendons. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: Achilles tendons from 2-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats were used. Tendons were isolated and divided into proximal, middle, and distal thirds for RNA sequencing (n = 5). For mechanical testing, the Achilles muscle-tendon-calcaneus unit was mounted in a custom-designed materials testing system with the unit clamped over the musculotendinous junction (MTJ) and the calcaneus secured at 90 degrees of dorsiflexion (n = 9). Tendons were stretched to 20 N at a constant speed of 0.0167 mm/s. Cross-sectional area, strain, stress, and Young modulus were determined in each tendon region. Results: An open-access, interactive transcriptional atlas was generated that revealed distinct gene expression signatures in each tendon region. The proximal and distal regions had the largest differences in gene expression, with 2596 genes significantly differentially regulated at least 1.5-fold (q < .01). The proximal tendon displayed increased expression of genes resembling a tendon phenotype and increased expression of nerve cell markers. The distal region displayed increases in genes involved in extracellular matrix synthesis and remodeling, immune cell regulation, and a phenotype similar to cartilage and bone. There was a 3.72-fold increase in Young modulus from the proximal to middle region (P < .01) and an additional 1.34-fold increase from the middle to distal region (P = .027). Conclusion: Within a single tendon, there are region-specific transcriptomic signatures and mechanical properties, and there is likely a gradient in the biological and functional phenotype from the proximal origin at the MTJ to the distal insertion at the enthesis.

作者

我是这篇论文的作者
点击您的名字以认领此论文并将其添加到您的个人资料中。

评论

主要评分

4.6
评分不足

次要评分

新颖性
-
重要性
-
科学严谨性
-
评价这篇论文

推荐

暂无数据
暂无数据