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Korcari A, Muscat S, McGinn E, Buckley MR, Loiselle AE. Depletion of Scleraxis-lineage cells during tendon healing transiently impairs multi-scale restoration of tendon structure during early healing. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274227. [PMID: 36240193 PMCID: PMC9565440 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tendons are composed of a heterogeneous cell environment, with Scleraxis-lineage (ScxLin) cells being the predominant population. Although ScxLin cells are required for maintenance of tendon homeostasis, their functions during tendon healing are unknown. To this end, we first characterized the spatiotemporal dynamics of ScxLin cells during tendon healing, and identified that the overall ScxLin pool continuously expands up to early remodeling healing phase. To better define the function of ScxLin cells during the late proliferative phase of healing, we inducibly depleted ScxLin cells from day 14-18 post-surgery using the Scx-Cre; Rosa-DTR mouse model, with local administration of diphtheria toxin inducing apoptosis of ScxLin cells in the healing tendon. At D28 post-surgery, ScxLin cell depleted tendons (DTRScxLin) had substantial impairments in structure and function, relative to WT, demonstrating the importance of ScxLin cells during tendon healing. Next, bulk RNAseq was utilized to identify the underlying mechanisms that were impaired with depletion and revealed that ScxLin depletion induced molecular and morphological stagnation of the healing process at D28. However, this stagnation was transient, such that by D56 tendon mechanics in DTRScxLin were not significantly different than wildtype repairs. Collectively, these data offer fundamental knowledge on the dynamics and roles of ScxLin cells during tendon healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonion Korcari
- Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Samantha Muscat
- Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth McGinn
- Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Mark R. Buckley
- Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Alayna E. Loiselle
- Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Wunderli SL, Blache U, Snedeker JG. Tendon explant models for physiologically relevant invitro study of tissue biology - a perspective. Connect Tissue Res 2020; 61:262-277. [PMID: 31931633 DOI: 10.1080/03008207.2019.1700962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Background: Tendon disorders increasingly afflict our aging society but we lack the scientific understanding to clinically address them. Clinically relevant models of tendon disease are urgently needed as established small animal models of tendinopathy fail to capture essential aspects of the disease. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional cell and tissue culture models are similarly limited, lacking many physiological extracellular matrix cues required to maintain tissue homeostasis or guide matrix remodeling. These cues reflect the biochemical and biomechanical status of the tissue, and encode information regarding the mechanical and metabolic competence of the tissue. Tendon explants overcome some of these limitations and have thus emerged as a valuable tool for the discovery and study of mechanisms associated with tendon homeostasis and pathophysiology. Tendon explants retain native cell-cell and cell-matrix connections, while allowing highly reproducible experimental control over extrinsic factors like mechanical loading and nutritional availability. In this sense tendon explant models can deliver insights that are otherwise impossible to obtain from in vivo animal or in vitro cell culture models. Purpose: In this review, we aimed to provide an overview of tissue explant models used in tendon research, with a specific focus on the value of explant culture systems for the controlled study of the tendon core tissue. We discuss their advantages, limitations and potential future utility. We include suggestions and technical recommendations for the successful use of tendon explant cultures and conclude with an outlook on how explant models may be leveraged with state-of-the-art biotechnologies to propel our understanding of tendon physiology and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania L Wunderli
- University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrich Blache
- University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jess G Snedeker
- University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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