ABSTRACT

Aim of the study

Tendons are exposed to mechanical stress constantly during movements and thus they are frequently subjected to injuries. Rotator cuff tears are common musculoskeletal disorders, mainly involving the supraspinatus tendon. The characterization of the tenocytes derived from this tendon and the comparison to cells isolated from the long head of the biceps tendon obtained from donors affected by rotator cuff disease may improve the knowledge of the cellular mechanisms involved in the initiation and progression of the pathology. Thus, the aim of the present study was to characterize and compare donor-matched human tendon cells (TCs) isolated from the long head of the biceps (LHB-TCs) and the supraspinatus tendons (SSP-TCs) of patients affected by rotator cuff tears.

Methods

donor-matched LHB-TCs and SSP-TCs were isolated and cultured up to passage 3. Phenotypic appearance, metabolic activity, DNA content, production of soluble mediators (IL-1Ra, IL-1β, IL-6, and VEGF) and gene expression of tendon markers (SCX, COL1A1, COL3A1), inflammatory (PTGS2), and catabolic enzymes (MMP-1, MMP-3) were evaluated.

Results

LHB-TCs showed an elongated fibroblast-like shape, while SSP-TCs appeared irregular with jagged membrane. SSP-TCs gene expression revealed an augmented production of PTGS2, a marker of inflammation, whereas they produced a reduced amount of IL-6, in respect to LHB-TCs.

Conclusion

SSP-TCs showed higher cellular stress and expression of inflammatory markers with respect to donor-matched LHB-TCs, suggesting that addressing the physio-pathological state of supraspinatus tendon cells during treatment of rotator cuff tears could favor tissue healing and possibly prevent relapses.

中文翻译：

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肩袖撕裂患者二头肌长头和冈上肌腱的肌腱细胞表现出不同的炎症标志物表达

摘要

研究目的

肌腱在运动过程中不断受到机械应力，因此经常受到伤害。肩袖撕裂是常见的肌肉骨骼疾病，主要累及冈上肌腱。来自该肌腱的肌腱细胞的特征以及与从受肩袖疾病影响的供体获得的二头肌腱长头分离的细胞的比较可能会提高对参与病理学起始和进展的细胞机制的了解。因此，本研究的目的是表征和比较从受肩袖影响的患者的二头肌长头 (LHB-TCs) 和冈上肌腱 (SSP-TCs) 中分离的供体匹配的人肌腱细胞 (TCs)眼泪。

方法

供体匹配的 LHB-TC 和 SSP-TC 被分离并培养至第 3 代。表型外观、代谢活性、DNA 含量、可溶性介质（IL-1Ra、IL-1β、IL-6 和 VEGF）和基因的产生评估了肌腱标志物（SCX、COL1A1、COL3A1）、炎症（PTGS2）和分解代谢酶（MMP-1、MMP-3）的表达。

结果

LHB-TCs 呈细长的成纤维细胞样形状，而 SSP-TCs 呈不规则的锯齿状膜。SSP-TCs 基因表达显示炎症标志物PTGS2的产生增加，而与 LHB-TCs 相比，它们产生的 IL-6 量减少。

结论

与供体匹配的 LHB-TCs 相比，SSP-TCs 显示出更高的细胞应激和炎症标志物的表达，这表明在治疗肩袖撕裂期间解决冈上肌腱细胞的生理病理状态可能有利于组织愈合并可能防止复发。