Cyclical strain modulates metalloprotease and matrix gene expression in human tenocytes via activation of TGFβ

Eleanor R. Jones, Gavin C. Jones, Kirsten Legerlotz, Graham P. Riley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Tendinopathies are a range of diseases characterised by degeneration and chronic tendon pain and represent a significant cause of morbidity. Relatively little is known about the underlying mechanisms; however onset is often associated with physical activity. A number of molecular changes have been documented in tendinopathy such as a decrease in overall collagen content, increased extracellular matrix turnover and protease activity. Metalloproteinases are involved in the homeostasis of the extracellular matrix and expression is regulated by mechanical strain. The aims of this study were to determine the effects of strain upon matrix turnover by measuring metalloproteinase and matrix gene expression and to elucidate the mechanism of action. Primary Human Achilles tenocytes were seeded in type I rat tail collagen gels in a Flexcell™ tissue train system and subjected to 5% cyclic uniaxial strain at 1 Hz for 48 h. TGFβ1 and TGFβRI inhibitor were added to selected cultures. RNA was measured using qRT-PCR and TGFβ protein levels were determined using a cell based luciferase assay. We observed that mechanical strain regulated the mRNA levels of multiple protease and matrix genes anabolically, and this regulation mirrored that seen with TGFβ stimulation alone. We have also demonstrated that the inhibition of the TGFβ signalling pathway abrogated the strain induced changes in mRNA and that TGFβ activation, rather than gene expression, was increased with mechanical strain. We concluded that TGFβ activation plays an important role in mechanotransduction. Targeting this pathway may have its place in the treatment of tendinopathy.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2596-2607
Number of pages12
JournalBiochimica Et Biophysica Acta-Molecular Cell Research
Volume1833
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2013

Keywords

  • Strain
  • Mechanotransduction
  • Transforming Growth Factor β
  • Metalloproteinase
  • Tendon

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