Rotator cuff tendon tears are typically degenerative and usually affect the region of tendon insertion on bone. The remnant torn tendon is degenerative and may not be an ideal source for progenitor cells for cell-based therapies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine if musculotendinous junction (MTJ), which is adjacent to tendon would be a viable alternate source of progenitor stem cells. We also sought to study the gene expression profile MTJ progenitors and compare it with progenitors isolated from RC tendon, RC muscle and other existing tissue sources (bone marrow, adipose tissue, and Achilles tendon). Rotator cuff tendon (RCT), muscle (RCM), and RCMTJ as well as Achilles tendon (AT) tissues were harvested from healthy male Lewis rats and progenitor cultures were established from these tissues and also from bone marrow and adipose tissue. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed on RNA extracts from intact tissues and progenitor cells using a custom array for the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation marker genes. The gene expression profile of MSC differentiation markers within four tissues types, six progenitor cells, and between tissue and their corresponding progenitors were compared. Progenitors cells can be isolated from rat rotator cuff musculotendinous tissue and their pattern of MSC gene expression was similar to the rotator cuff tendon progenitors for majority of the genes tested. However, there were significant differences between the MSC gene expression patterns of RCMTJ and RCM progenitors. Furthermore, there were differences in gene expression between the RCMTJ tissue and its progenitor cells with respect to MSC differentiation markers. The gene expression pattern of RCMTJ tissue was similar to RCM tissue with respect to markers of chondrogenesis, myogenesis, tenogenesis, and MSC specific markers. We demonstrate that the musculotendinous junction contains distinct set of progenitor cells and their MSC gene expression pattern is similar to rotator cuff tendon progenitors. RCMTJ progenitors will be an attractive option for cell-based regenerative treatment of chronic rotator cuff tears.

中文翻译：

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从大鼠肩袖肌腱连接处分离的祖细胞的基因表达谱

肩袖肌腱撕裂通常是退化性的，通常会影响肌腱插入骨骼的区域。残余的撕裂肌腱是变性的，可能不是用于基于细胞的疗法的祖细胞的理想来源。因此，本研究的目的是确定与肌腱相邻的肌腱接头（MTJ）是否可以作为可行的祖细胞替代来源。我们还试图研究MTJ祖细胞的基因表达谱，并将其与从RC肌腱，RC肌肉和其他现有组织来源（骨髓，脂肪组织和跟腱）分离的祖细胞进行比较。肩袖肌腱（RCT），肌肉（RCM），从健康的雄性Lewis大鼠身上收集RCMTJ和RCMTJ以及跟腱（AT）组织，并从这些组织以及骨髓和脂肪组织中建立祖细胞培养。使用间充质干细胞（MSC）分化标记基因的定制阵列，对来自完整组织和祖细胞的RNA提取物进行定量RT-PCR。比较了四种组织类型，六个祖细胞以及组织与相应祖细胞之间的MSC分化标记的基因表达谱。可以从大鼠肩袖肌腱组织中分离祖细胞，并且在大多数测试基因中，它们的MSC基因表达模式与肩袖肌腱祖细胞相似。然而，RCMTJ和RCM祖细胞的MSC基因表达模式之间存在显着差异。此外，就MSC分化标志物而言，RCMTJ组织与其祖细胞之间的基因表达存在差异。在软骨形成，肌发生，腱鞘生成和MSC特异性标记方面，RCMTJ组织的基因表达模式与RCM组织相似。我们证明了肌腱连接包含不同的祖细胞集，它们的MSC基因表达模式与肩袖肌腱祖细胞相似。RCMTJ祖细胞将成为基于细胞的慢性肩袖撕裂再生治疗的诱人选择。就MSC分化标记而言，RCMTJ组织及其祖细胞之间的基因表达存在差异。在软骨形成，肌发生，腱鞘生成和MSC特异性标记方面，RCMTJ组织的基因表达模式与RCM组织相似。我们证明了肌腱连接包含不同的祖细胞集，它们的MSC基因表达模式与肩袖肌腱祖细胞相似。RCMTJ祖细胞将成为基于细胞的慢性肩袖撕裂再生治疗的诱人选择。就MSC分化标记而言，RCMTJ组织及其祖细胞之间的基因表达存在差异。在软骨形成，肌发生，腱鞘生成和MSC特异性标记方面，RCMTJ组织的基因表达模式与RCM组织相似。我们证明了肌腱连接包含不同的祖细胞集，它们的MSC基因表达模式与肩袖肌腱祖细胞相似。RCMTJ祖细胞将成为基于细胞的慢性肩袖撕裂再生治疗的诱人选择。我们证明了肌腱连接包含不同的祖细胞集，它们的MSC基因表达模式与肩袖肌腱祖细胞相似。RCMTJ祖细胞将成为基于细胞的慢性肩袖撕裂再生治疗的诱人选择。我们证明了肌腱连接包含不同的祖细胞集，并且它们的MSC基因表达模式与肩袖腱祖细胞相似。RCMTJ祖细胞将成为基于细胞的慢性肩袖撕裂再生治疗的诱人选择。