Tissue Eng Regen Med.  2019 Apr;16(2):151-159. 10.1007/s13770-019-00182-2.

Characterization of Tendon-Specific Markers in Various Human Tissues, Tenocytes and Mesenchymal Stem Cells

• Jo CH
• Lim HJ
• Yoon KS

• KMID: 2449246
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-019-00182-2

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Unlike bone, cartilage, or muscle, tendon-specific markers are not well established. The purpose of the study was to investigate expression pattern and level of 6 well-known tendon-specific markers, in various human musculoskeletal tissues, tenocytes, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
METHODS
Musculoskeletal tissue samples of tendon, bone, cartilage, nerve, muscle, and fat were obtained from patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. Tenocytes, MSCs from bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord were isolated from each tissue and cultured. Six tendon-specific markers, scleraxis (Scx), tenomodulin (TNMD), thrombospondin-4 (TSP-4), tenascin-C (TNC), type I collagen (Col I), and type III collagen (Col III) were investigated in tendon tissue, tenocytes, and MSCs.
RESULTS
mRNA levels of 6 tendon-specific markers were significantly higher in tendon tissue that in other connective tissues levels of Scx, TNMD, TSP-4, and Col III immediately decreased after plating tenocytes in culture dishes whereas those of TNC and Col I did not. In comparison with tendon tissue, mRNA levels pattern of Scx, TNMD, and TSP-4 in tenocytes were significantly higher than that in MSCs, but lower than in tendon tissue whereas expression pattern of TNC, Col I and III showed different pattern with each other.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated that 6 commonly used tendon-specific markers were mainly expressed in tendon tissue, but that expression level and pattern of the tendon-specific markers with respect to kinds of tissues, culture duration of tenocytes and sources of MSCs.

Keyword

Tendons; Scleraxis; Biomarkers; Thrombospondin-4; Mesenchymal stem cells

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Biomarkers
Bone Marrow
Cartilage
Collagen Type I
Collagen Type III
Connective Tissue
Humans*
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells*
Orthopedics
RNA, Messenger
Tenascin
Tendons
Umbilical Cord
Biomarkers
Collagen Type I
Collagen Type III
RNA, Messenger
Tenascin