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Liu Z, Han W, Meng J, Pi Y, Wu T, Fan Y, Guo Q, Hu X, Chen Y, Jiang W, Zhao F. Mohawk protects against tendon damage via suppressing Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25658. [PMID: 38370202 PMCID: PMC10867664 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Degenerative tendon injuries are common clinical problems associated with overuse or aging, and understanding the mechanisms of tendon injury and regeneration can contribute to the study of tendon healing and repair. As a transcription factor, Mohawk (Mkx) is responsible for tendons development, yet, the roles of which in tendon damage remain mostly elusive. In this study, using Mkx overexpressed mice on long treadmill as an in vivo model and MkxOE Achilles tenocytes stimulated by equiaxial stretch as an in vitro model, we anaylsed the effects of Mkx overexpression on the tendon. Mkx and tendon tension strength were decreased after the expose to excessive mechanical forces, and Mkx overexpression protected the tendon from damage. Moreover, we revealed that the Wnt/β-catenin activation, inflammation, and Runx2 expression were increased at the injured Achilles tendon, upregulated Mkx significantly reversed the increased Wnt/β-catenin pathway, Tnf-α, Il-1β, and Il-6 levels, and reduced tendon cell damage. However, Wnt3a, IWR and BIO had not significantly affected the Mkx expression in achilles tenocytes. In conclusion, Mkx is involved in tendon healing and protects the tendon from damage through suppressing Wnt/β-catenin pathway, suggesting Mkx/Wnt/β-catenin pathway may be potential therapeutic targets for tendon damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziming Liu
- Department of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wenfeng Han
- Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jiao Meng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bijie Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, Bijie, Guizhou, China
| | - Yanbing Pi
- Department of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Wu
- Department of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yifei Fan
- Department of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qinwei Guo
- Department of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqing Hu
- Department of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhua Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bijie Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, Bijie, Guizhou, China
| | - Wenxiao Jiang
- Department of Sports Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao Campus), Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Feng Zhao
- Department of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
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Asahara H, Inui M, Lotz MK. Tendons and Ligaments: Connecting Developmental Biology to Musculoskeletal Disease Pathogenesis. J Bone Miner Res 2017; 32:1773-1782. [PMID: 28621492 PMCID: PMC5585011 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.3199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Tendons and ligaments provide connections between muscle and bone or bone and bone to enable locomotion. Damage to tendons and ligaments caused by acute or chronic injury or associated with aging and arthritis is a prevalent cause of disability. Improvements in approaches for the treatment of these conditions depend on a better understanding of tendon and ligament development, cell biology, and pathophysiology. This review focuses on recent advances in the discovery of transcription factors that control ligament and tendon cell differentiation, how cell and extracellular matrix homeostasis are altered in disease, and how this new insight can lead to novel therapeutic approaches. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Asahara
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
- Department of Systems BioMedicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Masafumi Inui
- Laboratory of Animal Regeneration Systemology, Department of Life Science, School of Agriculture, Meiji University, Kanagawa, 214-8571
| | - Martin K. Lotz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
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Gtf2ird1-Dependent Mohawk Expression Regulates Mechanosensing Properties of the Tendon. Mol Cell Biol 2016; 36:1297-309. [PMID: 26884464 PMCID: PMC4836271 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00950-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanoforces experienced by an organ are translated into biological information for cellular sensing and response. In mammals, the tendon connective tissue experiences and resists physical forces, with tendon-specific mesenchymal cells called tenocytes orchestrating extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover. We show that Mohawk (Mkx), a tendon-specific transcription factor, is essential in mechanoresponsive tenogenesis through regulation of its downstream ECM genes such as type I collagens and proteoglycans such as fibromodulin both in vivo and in vitro Wild-type (WT) mice demonstrated an increase in collagen fiber diameter and density in response to physical treadmill exercise, whereas in Mkx(-/-) mice, tendons failed to respond to the same mechanical stimulation. Furthermore, functional screening of the Mkx promoter region identified several upstream transcription factors that regulate Mkx In particular, general transcription factor II-I repeat domain-containing protein 1 (Gtf2ird1) that is expressed in the cytoplasm of unstressed tenocytes translocated into the nucleus upon mechanical stretching to activate the Mkx promoter through chromatin regulation. Here, we demonstrate that Gtf2ird1 is essential for Mkx transcription, while also linking mechanical forces to Mkx-mediated tendon homeostasis and regeneration.
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