Abstract: Tendon injuries amount to one of the leading causes of career-ending injuries in horses due to the inability for tendon to completely repair and the high reinjury potential. As a result, novel therapeutics are necessary to improve repair with the goal of decreasing leg lameness and potential reinjury. Small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycans (SLRPs), a class of regulatory molecules responsible for collagen organization and maturation, may be one such therapeutic to improve tendon repair. Before SLRP supplementation can occur in vivo, proper evaluation of the effect of these molecules in vitro needs to be assessed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of purified bovine biglycan or decorin on tendon proper and peritenon cell populations in three-dimensional tendon constructs. Methods: Equine tendon proper or peritenon cell seeded fibrin three-dimensional constructs were supplemented with biglycan or decorin at two concentrations (5 nM or 25 nM). The functionality and ultrastructural morphology of the constructs were assessed using biomechanics, collagen content analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and gene expression by real time - quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results: SLRP supplementation affected both tendon proper and peritenon cells-seeded constructs. With additional SLRPs, material and tensile properties of constructs strengthened, though ultrastructural analyses indicated production of similar-sized or smaller fibrils. Overall expression of tendon markers was bolstered more in peritenon cells supplemented with either SLRP, while supplementation of SLRPs to TP cell-derived constructs demonstrated fewer changes in tendon and extracellular matrix markers. Moreover, relative to non-supplemented tendon proper cell-seeded constructs, SLRP supplementation of the peritenon cells showed increases in mechanical strength, material properties, and collagen content. Conclusions: The SLRP-supplemented peritenon cells produced constructs with greater mechanical and material properties than tendon proper seeded constructs, as well as increased expression of matrix assembly molecules. These findings provide evidence that SLRPs should be further investigated for their potential to improve tendon formation in engineered grafts or post-injury.
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This research looked at the impact of adding the molecules biglycan or decorin to equine tendon cells in a controlled lab setting. The results showed that these additions improved the formation of tendon-like structures, suggesting a possible therapeutic treatment to enhance tendon repair in horses.
Background
The study aimed to address tendon injuries in horses, a major cause of career-ending injuries in these animals. Despite advances in veterinary medicine, complete repair of tendons remains a challenge and reinjury is common, disrupting the horse’s athletic function and causing painful lameness.
Researchers are constantly seeking effective ways to improve repair with the aim of minimizing lameness and potential reinjury. This study focused on the potential therapeutic value of small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycans (SLRPs), a class of regulatory molecules that manage collagen organization and maturation. SLRPs are essential to tissue repair and regeneration.
Methodology
Before testing the effect of SLRPs in live animals (in vivo), the study first evaluated their effectiveness on laboratory-grown (in vitro) tendons.
The researchers introduced purified bovine biglycan or decorin—two kinds of SLRPs—to tendon tissues derived from either tendon proper or peritenon cells in three-dimensional structures.
The functionality and ultrastructural morphology of the tendon constructs were then evaluated through several methods, including biomechanics, collagen content analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and gene expression analysis through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).
Results
The study found that adding SLRPs to the lab-grown tendon constructs positively affected both tendon proper cells and peritenon cells.
SLRP supplementation resulted in brighter material and tensile properties, indicating stronger tissue formation.
Moreover, peritenon cell-seeded constructs supplemented with either type of SLRPs showed boosted tendon marker expression relative to non-supplemented tendon proper cell-seeded constructs.
SLRP supplementation resulted in increases in mechanical strength, material properties, and collagen content in the peritenon cells when compared with non-supplemented tendon proper cells.
Conclusions
The researchers concluded that SLRP-supplemented peritenon cells created tendon constructs with superior mechanical and material properties than those from tendon proper cells.
These improved cells also had increased expression of matrix assembly molecules, suggesting increased tissue regeneration potential.
Overall, this study provides evidence for further investigation into the use of SLRPs as a possible treatment to improve tendon formation in engineered grafts or post-injury therapeutics.
Cite This Article
APA
Pechanec MY, Boyd TN, Baar K, Mienaltowski MJ.
(2020).
Adding exogenous biglycan or decorin improves tendon formation for equine peritenon and tendon proper cells in vitro.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 21(1), 627.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-03650-2
Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, 2251 Meyer Hall, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
Boyd, Tannah N
Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, 2251 Meyer Hall, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
Baar, Keith
Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California Davis, 195 Briggs Hall, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 195 Briggs Hall, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
Mienaltowski, Michael J
Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, 2251 Meyer Hall, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA, 95616, USA. mjmienaltowski@ucdavis.edu.
MeSH Terms
Animals
Biglycan
Cattle
Collagen
Decorin
Extracellular Matrix Proteins
Horses
Tendons
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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