Exploring the Impact of Macrophages on the Tenogenic Differentiation of Stem Cells
Additional Funding Sources
This project is supported by a 2019-2020 STEM Undergraduate Research Grant from the Higher Education Research Council.
Presentation Date
7-2020
Abstract
Tendon is a collagenous tissue that transfers mechanical forces from muscle to bone. Tendon injuries are associated with significant disruptions in mechanical function and are difficult to treat clinically. During the healing process, interactions between inflammation and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may play a role in tendon tissue regeneration. Macrophages influence inflammation, and MSCs may differentiate toward tendon (i.e., tenogenesis) to regulate regeneration. However, more research is needed to determine how macrophages directly interact with MSCs and impact tenogenesis. We hypothesize that macrophages impact tenogenesis. To test this hypothesis, macrophages and MSCs will be co-cultured, and tenogenic markers will be evaluated. Tenogenesis of mouse MSCs will be induced using transforming growth factor (TGF)𝛽2, and both directly and indirectly co-cultured with mouse macrophages. Additional experiments are being conducted to evaluate how macrophage growth is influenced by both TGF𝛽2 and the ratio of MSCs-to-macrophages in co-culture. To evaluate the impact that the macrophages have on tenogenesis, MSCs will be stained to visualize actin cytoskeleton morphology and western blots will be used to determine the protein levels of the tendon marker proteins, scleraxis and tenomodulin. Results will provide new information for how macrophages impact tenogenesis, which has a significant implication for understanding tendon healing and regeneration.
Exploring the Impact of Macrophages on the Tenogenic Differentiation of Stem Cells
Tendon is a collagenous tissue that transfers mechanical forces from muscle to bone. Tendon injuries are associated with significant disruptions in mechanical function and are difficult to treat clinically. During the healing process, interactions between inflammation and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may play a role in tendon tissue regeneration. Macrophages influence inflammation, and MSCs may differentiate toward tendon (i.e., tenogenesis) to regulate regeneration. However, more research is needed to determine how macrophages directly interact with MSCs and impact tenogenesis. We hypothesize that macrophages impact tenogenesis. To test this hypothesis, macrophages and MSCs will be co-cultured, and tenogenic markers will be evaluated. Tenogenesis of mouse MSCs will be induced using transforming growth factor (TGF)𝛽2, and both directly and indirectly co-cultured with mouse macrophages. Additional experiments are being conducted to evaluate how macrophage growth is influenced by both TGF𝛽2 and the ratio of MSCs-to-macrophages in co-culture. To evaluate the impact that the macrophages have on tenogenesis, MSCs will be stained to visualize actin cytoskeleton morphology and western blots will be used to determine the protein levels of the tendon marker proteins, scleraxis and tenomodulin. Results will provide new information for how macrophages impact tenogenesis, which has a significant implication for understanding tendon healing and regeneration.